“It’s Me, Hi, I’m the Victim It’s Me”: Legal Depictions of the “Victim” in David Mueller v. Taylor Swift

Event Description

In recent years, the convergence of celebrity culture, sexual violence, and the legal system has emerged as a significant topic in public discourse. This presentation seeks to enrich this conversation by examining the legal dispute between Taylor Swift and David Mueller. The case began when Taylor Swift accused radio host David Mueller of groping her during a meet-and-greet event, prompting Mueller to file a defamation lawsuit against her. Swift responded with a counterclaim for assault and battery, pursuing symbolic damages of $1.

The Mueller v. Swift case, which highlights how defamation lawsuits can be used by abusers to intimidate survivors of sexual violence, serves as a basis for two lines of analysis. Firstly, it reveals how such legal actions often result in a role reversal, with the victim being recast as the perpetrator, thus reshaping the dynamics of the judicial process. Second, it provides a lens to examine the portrayal of sexual violence survivors in legal discourses, particularly the persistent myths and stereotypes, such as the “perfect victim” narrative. Through an analysis of the language used by the parties, the court, and the media during the Mueller v. Swift lawsuit, this presentation will underscore the prevalence and harmful effects of these myths on both legal proceedings and society’s broader understanding of survivors.

In conclusion, the presentation will explore Taylor Swift’s broader interactions with the legal system and consider how high-profile cases and prominent cultural figures can potentially shape the trajectory of social justice movements.

In-person attendees will have the opportunity to enter a draw for official Taylor Swift merchandise.

Zoom Registration

Speaker

Marie-Andrée Plante has been a professor at the Faculty of Law at the Université de Sherbrooke since 2023. Her teaching focuses on legal theory, property law, and legal methodology and writing. Her research explores subjects such as the concept of “victimhood” in law, sexual and intimate partner violence, animal law, and the intersections between law, culture, and the humanities.