An Atlanta United supporter is suing the parent company of the website Deadspin for libel.
Kevin Cheek filed the lawsuit in Fulton County Superior Court against Gizmodo Media Group on July 24.
The lawsuit is the result of the website publishing a story with the headline “Atlanta United Fans Break Into Homophobic Chant During Inaugural Game” and was accompanied by a file photo that featured Cheek but was not taken at the game. Gizmodo is owned by Univision Communications.
In the lawsuit, Cheek alleges that his reputation has been damaged and that he has been ridiculed.
The chant happened during Atlanta United’s first game against New York Red Bulls on March 5 at Bobby Dodd Stadium.
Cheek, 34 and an Athens resident, declined to comment.
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