Kit Roberts
A Chicago restaurant is suing a woman for defamation after she posted a video on TikTok about her experience.
The Hubbard Inn in Chicago brought the case against TikTokker Julia Reel after the video was published online.
In the video, 22-year-old Reel makes allegations about the way that was treated by staff during her visit.
The restaurant has denied the allegations and has now brought a lawsuit against her, claiming that they have seen a spike in cancellations since the video was published.
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In the lawsuit, the Hubbard Inn denies that the customer was "grabb[ed], manhandle[d], and dragg[ed] out of the bathroom" before being "‘shoved down the stairs."
They supplied CCTV footage of the evening in question and argued that the video clearly contradicts the customer's account of events.
In the lawsuit, the Hubbard Inn said: “Below is footage of Ms Reel walking down the stairs toward the exit. She was politely escorted off the premises, ensuring a safe exit.”
It continues: “This clearly contradicts her false allegations that she was ‘grabb[ed],’ ‘manhandle[d],’ and ‘dragg[ed]’ out of the bathroom and into the hallway, and ‘shoved’ down the stairs, sending her ‘flying down the rest of the staircase,’ at which point she 'slammed her head on the ground'.”
Lawyers representing Reel also released a statement in a video in which they claimed that the restaurant's video gives a 'misleading narrative'.
They also urged the public to reserve judgement until the case is concluded, saying: “Respectfully, we urge the public to hold off on a rush to judgment and/or victim shaming until all of the evidence is presented in a court of law.”
The lawyers claimed that the security footage has an unexplained gap of two minutes and also does not show a part of the staircase where the customer claimed she was pushed.
Hubbard Inn alleges in the lawsuit: “Not surprisingly, Hubbard Inn’s security camera footage does not cover every square foot of the premises.
“The footage does show, however, Defendant being calmly escorted … out of the establishment.”
Reel's lawyers have also claimed that she was treated for bruises and concussion at an emergency room.
She also filed a report with Chicago Police, which claims that she was pulled from a restroom while relieving herself and dragged out before she could fully dress.
It also details that Reel and her friend went to the hospital where she was treated for a 'bruised up arm and head', though the report does not mention a concussion.
In its lawsuit, the restaurant says that it had tried to contact Reel after she posted the video, but did not hear back from her.
Reel's attorney declined to comment on the lawsuit. Attorney Bill Gibbs told the Chicago Sun Times: “The civil justice system is well equipped to resolve the disputes between the parties."
UNILAD has reached out to legal representatives of Julia Reel and The Hubbard Inn.