Sports Broadcaster Scott Sapulpa Wins $25M in Defamation Case

A jury awarded Sapulpa $25 million after Oklahoman newspaper mistakenly identified him as making racist comments during a 2021 basketball game.

Scott Sapulpa was awarded $25 million in damages after being wrongfully identified by The Oklahoman as the announcer who made racist remarks during a 2021 high school basketball game.
The jury awarded Sapulpa $5 million in actual damages and $20 million in punitive damages, finding the newspaper acted with actual malice.
Matt Rowan, the actual announcer who made the racist comments, later admitted his mistake and attributed it to a spike in his blood sugar.
The defamation case highlighted the impact of false reporting on individuals, leading to threats, loss of employment, and personal distress for Sapulpa.
The Oklahoman, owned by Gannett, plans to appeal the verdict, claiming there was no evidence of intentional harm or awareness of the report's falsity.