Joe McCann allegations spark legal threat and retraction
Lisa Durden retracted claims about Joe McCann after his lawyer challenged posts about Ashlee Jenae’s death, TMZ reports.
By Bianca Rossi · Entertainment Editor
3 min read
The Joe McCann allegations that spread after Ashlee Jenae’s death are now facing a legal pushback, with McCann’s attorney sending a cease-and-desist-style letter to a woman who posted claims about him on X, according to TMZ.
McCann, the fiancé of late influencer Ashlee Jenae, has been accused online of involvement in her death in Tanzania. TMZ reports those claims are unsubstantiated, and that Tanzanian authorities determined Jenae died by suicide.
According to a letter obtained by TMZ, McCann’s lawyer, Edward Andrew Paltzik, contacted Lisa Durden earlier this month after she made several posts about Jenae’s death. The letter cited posts in which Durden accused McCann of harming Jenae during their trip.
What did Lisa Durden say about Joe McCann?
TMZ reports one post included in the letter said, in part, “Her fiancé sus as hell. He beat the s*** out of #AshleeJenae in the hotel while they were on vacation.” In another post quoted by TMZ, Durden wrote, “That white man did it, so get off my line.”
McCann’s legal team said in the letter that Tanzanian authorities had ruled Jenae’s death a suicide, according to TMZ. The letter accused Durden of ignoring that official finding and defaming McCann through her posts.
The attorney’s letter demanded that Durden retract her statements, publicly apologize to McCann, stop making further statements about him and pay him financial compensation, TMZ reports.
What happened after the legal threat?
Durden issued a statement Friday saying she had “made numerous false statements” about McCann and his relationship with Jenae, according to TMZ. She also said she would donate $5,000 to the foundation McCann is creating in Jenae’s honor.
TMZ previously reported that McCann said Jenae had threatened suicide weeks before her death. TMZ also reported that she allegedly asked ChatGPT questions about suicide before she died.
Investigators said, according to TMZ, that a heated conversation led the couple to spend an evening in separate hotel rooms before Jenae took her own life.
Why does the ruling in Tanzania matter?
A finding by authorities that a death was suicide is central when someone is publicly accused of being responsible for it. McCann’s legal team used that finding to argue that Durden’s posts were false and damaging, according to TMZ.
The dispute now appears to have moved from social media accusations to formal legal pressure. TMZ reports McCann’s side is prepared to use the legal system if needed to challenge claims about him.
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This story draws on original reporting from TMZ.