**Former NFL Cheerleader Vows to Appeal After Judge Dismisses Defamation Claims Against Mario Lopez**
*Published: September 30, 2025, 7:05 p.m. ET*
The former NFL cheerleader who sued actor Mario Lopez for defamation is determined to continue her legal battle, RadarOnline.com can report, even after a judge dismissed her claims.
Desiree Townsend told RadarOnline.com that she plans to file appeals and is exploring other avenues against Lopez despite the setback.
Late last week, a judge granted Lopez’s anti-SLAPP motion in full, striking down all claims brought against him. Additionally, Lopez is now entitled to seek reimbursement of his legal fees from Townsend.
However, Townsend remains optimistic and looks forward to pursuing her case further. “It’s on to the appellate courts now!” she declared. “This is where real change happens and where case law is shaped.”
Before moving forward, Townsend will focus on appealing the restraining order Lopez obtained against her, which requires her to stay at least 100 yards away from him and his family.
“Right now, my focus is on appealing the restraining order decision,” she explained. “One of the grounds for the appeal is that the anti-SLAPP motion was never properly heard, and Mario’s team presented no opposition evidence.”
### Desiree Townsend Strikes Back Against Lopez
Townsend expressed particular frustration with Lopez’s legal representation. She stated, “His attorneys couldn’t answer basic questions, like why he posted the video in the first place or how it related to any public controversy about vaccines or the flu in the middle of June.”
She added, “They even went so far as to complain on the record that I need to stop making fun of Geragos & Geragos on TikTok and ‘warned’ the court they might sue me.”
In response, attorneys Alexandra Kazarian and Daniel JV Tapetillo released a statement to RadarOnline.com expressing their desire to move on from the case.
“We are hopeful this complete dismissal of her lawsuit, coming on the heels of the Restraining Order against this woman, will end her fixation and obsession with our client,” they said.
### Lopez’s Defense: Freedom of Speech
Lopez has maintained that his statements are protected under the First Amendment right to free speech. His legal team filed the anti-SLAPP motion, designed to quickly dismiss lawsuits against public figures when claims threaten free expression.
In prior court documents, Lopez’s attorneys argued, “Defendant alleges that any representations or omissions alleged in the Complaint were protected by Defendant’s First Amendment Rights to Freedom of Speech.”
They further stated, “Defendant’s statements were purely opinions, and not statements of fact, and no reasonable person who heard the statements would have interpreted them as anything but opinions.”
### Townsend Aims to ‘Create Change’
Initially, Townsend filed a $10 million lawsuit against Lopez, which she later increased to $25 million. She also added Lopez’s law firm, Geragos & Geragos, to the complaint and raised her damages demand to $50 million.
Despite the high sums at stake, Townsend pledged to donate any award to the Women In Media charity, which advocates for gender balance in the film and entertainment industries.
For her, the lawsuit is about more than financial compensation. “My hope is that these cases will leave a lasting legacy and set important precedent for people in California and beyond,” she shared. “A trial court win would have only benefitted me personally, but as I’ve said before, these cases were never about money; they’re about creating change.”
https://radaronline.com/p/flu-shot-cheerleader-desiree-townsend-mario-lopez-defamation-lawsuit-dismissed/
Be First to Comment