7/17 – In one of New Jersey’s first rulings under its newly enacted anti-SLAPP law, a judge has dismissed a defamation lawsuit against New York Jets cornerback Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner. The case, filed in Morris County, stemmed from an August 2024 social media exchange in which Gardner jokingly implied that plaintiff Kalli Mariakis had an OnlyFans profile. Mariakis, a Buffalo Bills fan, claimed the comment led to harassment and reputational harm. Gardner’s attorneys successfully argued that the posts were part of a lighthearted, public exchange, and not literally intended to be true. The court agreed, and found that the state’s 2023 anti-SLAPP statute applied. The ruling entitles Gardner to recover his legal fees, which are estimated at $105,000 (though that amount is being contested).