Rachel DeLoache Williams, a former friend of Anna Delvey and a photo editor at Vanity Fair, is currently engaged in a lawsuit against Netflix concerning her portrayal in the acclaimed 2022 series Inventing Anna. Williams initiated the lawsuit on August 29, 2022, and is striving for justice, as reported by Variety.
The basis for her lawsuit is the claim that Netflix intentionally sought to damage Williams’ reputation through a malicious representation of her character in the show.
Williams’ legal documents assert that:
“..Netflix made a deliberate decision for dramatic purposes to show Williams doing or saying things in the Series which portray her as a greedy, snobbish, disloyal, dishonest, cowardly, manipulative, and opportunistic person.”
Furthermore, Williams’ attorney, Alexander Rufus-Isaacs, contends that Netflix’s choice to use Williams’ actual name was driven by a personal vendetta. He remarks:
“The devastating damage to her reputation could have been avoided if only Netflix had used a fictitious name and different details. Why didn’t they do this for her when they did for so many other characters in the Series? Perhaps the reason was that she had chosen to play for the other team, i.e., HBO.”
Rachel DeLoache Williams Lawsuit Over Misrepresentation in Inventing Anna
Rachel DeLoache Williams, once part of Anna Delvey’s inner circle, is taking legal action against Netflix for her depiction in Inventing Anna, a dramatization of Anna Delvey’s notorious life story. The lawsuit, filed in 2022, claims misleading representation.
Williams argues that her portrayal in the series has caused irreparable harm to her reputation, which could have been avoided if the creators had chosen a different name for her character, as they did for other figures in the show.
The Meeting of Rachel DeLoache Williams and Anna Delvey
According to court documents, Rachel DeLoache Williams first met Anna Delvey in 2016 while working as a photo editor at Vanity Fair in New York. Their friendship developed in 2017 when Anna was living lavishly in a Manhattan hotel.
Williams recalled that Delvey presented herself as a wealthy German heiress with vast financial resources and social influence. However, this was a façade that crumbled under the weight of unpaid bills and deceit.
During Delvey’s trial, Williams played a pivotal role, testifying against her and assisting law enforcement with vital evidence that contributed to Delvey’s conviction.
Explained.
Rachel DeLoache Williams’ Views on Inventing Anna and Anna Delvey
In celebration of her book, My Friend Anna: The True Story of a Fake Heiress, which recounts her tumultuous friendship with Delvey and her fraudulent ways, Williams penned an article for Air Mail Weekly on February 5, 2022. In this piece, she reflected on Netflix’s Inventing Anna, stating:
“Netflix isn’t just putting out a fictional story. It’s effectively running a con woman’s P.R.—and putting money in her pocket.”
Williams made these remarks regarding the substantial $320,000 Netflix allegedly paid Delvey for the rights to her narrative.
Explained.
All episodes of Inventing Anna are currently available for streaming on Netflix.
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