KINGSTON, Jamaica — Jamaican blogger Milton Wray is refusing to wave the white flag in a brewing defamation showdown with the widow of late broadcaster Dervan Malcolm, declaring that if the dispute reaches court, he is prepared to defend what he published as true.
Lawyers representing Patrice Hussey Malcolm have threatened Supreme Court action over statements Wray allegedly made about her on social media following her husband’s death.
Her legal team claims the publications caused its client “significant distress, embarrassment, humiliation and reputational injury” and amounted to a campaign of public vilification and harassment.
But Wray has hit back through a September 11 letter to senior counsel Anthony Williams of Usim, Williams & Company, making his position clear: he believes he can prove his case.
“Truth is an absolute defence to defamation, and the truth of this matter can be established through eyewitness and other evidentiary material,” Wray wrote.
He went further, signalling that any court battle could bring details of the family controversy into the public domain.
“All of the sordid details will be contained in my Defence which, as you know, will be a public document,” he wrote.
Wray Challenges Widow’s Account
The dispute stems from allegations surrounding what Hussey Malcolm’s attorneys acknowledge are “ongoing issues and disagreements” within the family of the late broadcaster.
Her lawyers maintain that an alleged incident was fabricated and circulated in an effort to create strife and damage her reputation. They insist the accounts are untrue and without factual foundation.
Wray, however, challenged that position in his response.
He questioned how Hussey Malcolm could maintain that no incident occurred while, according to him, accounts from her legal representatives addressed events surrounding the disputed incident.
Wray also disputed aspects of the cease-and-desist correspondence, saying he has never used the moniker “Dutty Jancrow” and has never posted material concerning Hussey Malcolm on TikTok.
Still, amid the legal sabre-rattling, Wray has offered an olive branch.
He said he is prepared to make no further publications concerning Hussey Malcolm and to remove material about her from social media if the threat of legal action is withdrawn.
Crucially, he insists the offer is not an admission of liability.
“These commitments are not an admission of any wrongdoing on my part, and does not indicate liability,” Wray wrote, describing the proposal instead as a “goodwill gesture”.
“I maintain that the truthfulness of this matter can be proven.”
The confrontation comes against an increasingly perilous backdrop for Jamaica’s online commentators, with bloggers and social-media personalities facing defamation actions over material published digitally.
For Wray, however, the message to the other side is unmistakable.
Take the deal—or he appears ready to take the argument to court.
LAWSUITS AGAINST JAMAICAN BLOGGERS
Several notable Jamaican bloggers, vloggers, and social media commentators have been successfully sued or faced default judgments in defamation lawsuits:
Andre Stephens: The prominent vlogger lost a defamation suit brought against him by banker Ryan Strachan (Vice-President of Investor Relations at GK Capital). Strachan argued that Stephens published “gravely defamatory” videos and images across YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram. Because Stephens did not formally acknowledge the lawsuit in court, a default judgment was entered, moving the case directly to an assessment of damages.
Charmanique Hinds (@Newscentree): The operator of the popular Instagram blog @Newscentree was sued by socialites and business owners Shanice “Shanzi” Adair and Jermaule “Nino” Adair. The Supreme Court of Jamaica granted a default judgment in favor of the couple after Hinds failed to defend the suit, sending the matter to the courts to determine damages, costs, and interest.
Karen Cross, Natalee Stack, and Michelle Stern: Political activist Karen Cross and commentators Natalee Stack and Michelle Stern were successfully sued by PNP General Secretary Dr. Dayton Campbell. The Supreme Court struck out the women’s defences and ordered Cross to remove the offending social media posts regarding allegations she had broadcasted.
These cases have been heavily cited by Jamaican legal experts as a warning to digital content creators that traditional defamation laws apply equally to social media platforms.
Will 119 join this list? Only time will tell.
