$101M lawsuit filed against “Guyanese Critic” over “Mudwata” commentary

Social media commentator, Mikhail Rodrigues, who is better known as the “Guyanese Critic”, is facing a $101 million lawsuit over alleged libellous commentary he made via a Facebook live about the animated character, “Mudwata”.

The lawsuit, which was filed at the Demerara High Court and seeks $50 million in damages for libel, another $50 million in aggravated and exemplary damages and $1 million in special damages was filed by pageant photographer, Keron Bruce.
Bruce claims that on January 29, 2022, Rodrigues, while vacationing in Barbados, made several false and defamatory statements about him on a Facebook live which attracted 761 comments, 933 reactions, 33,000 views, and was shared 91 times.
Maintaining that he and the “Mudwata” character are not “one and the same”, Bruce said that Rodrigues has not presented any credible evidence to the contrary and therefore this cannot be ”a matter of fact”. He said that this has not been proven in a court of law, nor has he been charged with or convicted of a crime.

He denied having any engagement with Rodrigues, whom he described as a “self-proclaimed social media influencer”. The photographer alleged that Rodrigues’ utterances were for the sole purpose of increasing views, followers, reactions, and for his own personal clout.
According to him, these comments have caused irrevocable damage to his reputation and have subjected him to public ridicule, contempt, hatred, and embarrassment, and have also brought his career into disrepute.

Bruce further deposed that his 16-year-old son has also suffered ridicule and bullying from his peers as a result of the “bold” statements made by Rodrigues, who is also affirming that he is the photographer who took photographs of young women and used them in a derogatory manner.

Following the Facebook live, Bruce said he was immediately suspended from his duties as a photographer from the Miss World Organisation. Dismissing the statements as baseless, malicious, and grossly inaccurate, the photographer submitted that they are “calculated” for Rodrigues to increase monetary gains.
He added that his reputation is critical to his profession and suggestions of involvement in any such behaviour as alleged by a very public figure and self-proclaimed social media influencer, is detrimental to his career.
He said, too, that the libellous statements may create fear, possible apprehension in the public at large and reputable organisations such as the Miss World Organisation towards him and lead the Police to charge him.
Bruce told the High Court that he is fearful so much for his life that he has hired a 24-hour security service for himself and his family because Rodrigues has threatened that he “would show up” at his home and go live on Facebook.
Apart from monetary award for damages, the photographer is asking the court to order Rodrigues to publish or cause to be published, an apology to him. He is also seeking a permanent injunction restraining Rodrigues from publishing or causing to be published the posts or similar words which are defamatory to him.
Bruce is represented by lawyers, Anastasia Sandford and Tamieka Clarke. (G1)