Nine-time PGA Tour winner Patrick Reed threatened CNN with a $450 million lawsuit over defamatory comments made on air by host Jake Tapper and veteran sportscaster Bob Costas that Reed’s attorneys said were «designed to incite ridicule, hate and violence» against Reed and other LIV Golf players.
A letter from Reed’s attorneys, Klayman’s Law Group, obtained Tuesday by Golf Monthly, demands a public apology within five days for comments made by Tapper and Costas during a segment last week about LIVGolf.
«At the end of last week, CNN and Jake Tapper, along with CNN sports reporter Bob Costas, aired a highly scurrilous article titled ‘On-Court Fight Between PGA Tour And LIV Golf Intensifies As Saudi-Backed LIV Tries To Avoid Turning Over Information'» the letter said.
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«This widely viewed broadcast in Florida, the nation and internationally was not only defamatory, but was also designed to incite ridicule, hatred and violence against LIV Golf players, such as my client Patrick Reed, a champion professional golfer. by publishing that it takes ‘blood money’ from the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund, in the aftermath of the tragedy of September 11 twenty-two (22) years ago».
Reed and several others best members of the PGA Tour made the switch to LIV Golf this summer despite threats from The Tour to ban players who did. Reed joined in early June and competed alongside a few former members including Bryson DeChambeau and Dustin Johnson at the Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club for the first ever LIV Golf Invitational in Portland.
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Reed finished in third place and walked away with $1.275 million in prize money.
«Mr. Reed is not a ‘blood money’ taker, as he merely plays on a golf course financed by the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund, which also owns large shares in a myriad of American companies such as Disney, Boeing, JP Morgan Chase., Amazon, Blackrock Inc., Microsoft and many others,» the letter continues.
«In fact, many PGA Tour sponsors benefit from this investment fund, and PGA Tour players have recently received PGA Tour releases to play in the Saudi International Golf Tournament in Jeddah, February 2-5, 2023. , also funded by the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund. Aramco, the Saudi Arabian government-owned oil company, also sponsors and finances a series of LPGA events. Are you accusing professional golfers of also taking «money from blood»?
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CNN did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
Reed previously filed a $750 million defamation lawsuit against the Golf Channel and veteran commentator Brandel Chamblee, alleging that both parties «conspired» with the PGA Tour and commissioner Jay Monahan.
He later filed an amended lawsuit for $820 million, according to a separate report from Golf Monthly.
Fox News’ Ryan Gaydos contributed to this report.