Nationwide — Rev. Al Sharpton is refusing to back down after three friends of Nolan Wells threatened to sue him for defamation over comments he made about the circumstances surrounding the 18-year-old’s death. He called the allegations “meritless” and said he would not retract statements he did not make. He also made clear that the legal threat would not stop him from supporting Wells’ parents or pressing for answers about what happened.
The dispute began with an Aug. 21 letter from attorneys representing Warren Hudson, Jax Pitalo and Morgan Seymour. The lawyers accused Sharpton of making defamatory remarks about the three men during a July 14 interview with TMZ and other public appearances. They specifically pointed to comments he made at the National Association of Black Journalists convention and during an Aug. 19 prayer vigil held for Wells’ 19th birthday. The attorneys demanded that Sharpton apologize, retract his remarks, and remove the vigil from public platforms.
Wells disappeared on July 4 after spending the holiday on Mississippi’s Horn Island with a group of friends. Authorities found his body two days later. His death remains under investigation, and prosecutors have not charged Hudson, Pitalo, Seymour, or anyone else with a crime in connection with his death. The ongoing investigation has left questions about the circumstances surrounding Wells’ death unanswered.
According to Blavity, Sharpton’s attorneys responded with a 15-page letter disputing the allegations. They argued that he never accused the three men of murder or any other crime. Instead, they said, he raised questions about the investigation and echoed concerns already expressed by Wells’ family. “Reverend Sharpton did not insert himself into this family’s grief. He was asked,” his attorneys wrote. They added that he is an ordained Baptist minister and was standing with Wells’ parents, Christine Wells-Wonsley and Elmore Wonsley, in that role.
His legal team also rejected the demand for an apology and argued that the defamation claims depend on interpretations of what Sharpton said rather than his actual words. “The accusation on which the threatened claims depend is not contained in Reverend Sharpton’s words,” the response said. “It is supplied by counsel through inference.” His attorneys also noted that Wells’ mother had raised similar questions publicly before Sharpton discussed them.
Sharpton said the legal dispute would not change his position. He plans to continue standing with Wells’ family as they seek answers about their son’s death. “This is not going to distract us from the question that brought us here: What happened to Nolan Wells?” he said. His attorneys also warned that if the three men file a lawsuit, Sharpton could pursue legal action of his own, including seeking damages and attorneys’ fees.