WASHINGTON, D.C. — A transgender Army National Guard pilot has filed a federal defamation lawsuit against a right-wing social media influencer after being falsely identified as the pilot in a deadly aviation accident near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.
Chief Warrant Officer Jo Ellis, an Iraq War veteran, filed the suit in U.S. District Court in Colorado against Matt Wallace, a prominent online personality with over 2 million followers on the social media platform X. Wallace, according to the complaint, named Ellis as the pilot of a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter that collided with American Airlines Flight 5342 on Jan. 29.
“The original lie fabricated by Defendant was posted less than 24 hours after the mid-air collision,” Ellis stated in the complaint. Wallace allegedly claimed his brother had identified the pilot as transgender and included Ellis’ photo in a widely shared post.
The post has since been deleted.
The misinformation spread rapidly, thrusting Ellis into an unwanted spotlight. According to her legal filing, the situation escalated to such a degree that Ellis recorded a “proof of life” video to disprove Wallace’s claim and clarify she had no involvement in the accident.
Wallace, the complaint continues, deleted the original post but continued to share “additional falsehoods” about Ellis across his platforms. The lawsuit argues these actions amounted to defamation and caused significant reputational damage and emotional distress to Ellis.
Lawsuit targets viral misinformation
The legal team representing Ellis, including attorney Meg Phelan, filed the complaint in Colorado, where Wallace is believed to reside. The filing does not include a specific damages amount, but Ellis has said publicly that she intends to use any potential award to support transgender service members.
Ellis told Military.com that the false accusations upended her life and forced her into hiding. “My life turned upside down that morning,” she said, referring to Jan. 29.
Wallace has not issued a public response regarding the lawsuit. As of Wednesday, the defamation case remains pending in federal court.
Key Points
- A federal defamation suit was filed by Army pilot Jo Ellis against social media influencer Matt Wallace in Colorado.
- Wallace allegedly posted and later deleted a viral claim falsely identifying Ellis as the pilot in a Black Hawk crash.
- Ellis, a transgender veteran, recorded a “proof of life” video to counter the claim and seeks damages for reputational harm.
The lawsuit highlights growing concerns over misinformation spread on social media in the wake of national emergencies.
