THE MARQUEE
Australian singer-songwriter Dean Lewis has lost a legal bid in the District Court of Amsterdam to silence online allegations made by Sanne van Ooijen. Lewis sought a preliminary injunction to force van Ooijen to delete social media posts containing claims of assault and sexual misconduct. However, the court ruled in favor of van Ooijen, stating that her posts are protected under freedom of expression laws in the Netherlands.
The judge's decision rested on the finding that van Ooijen did not explicitly name Lewis in her public posts. According to reports from Rolling Stone Australia, the court determined that because the singer was not specifically identified by name, the statements did not meet the legal threshold for an immediate injunction. Lewis had also requested that the court bar van Ooijen from making any further claims, a move that was ultimately denied by the presiding judge.
A spokesperson for Dean Lewis expressed strong disagreement with the verdict, telling The Music Network that the ruling was based on a "critical error." The representative contended that van Ooijen’s posts clearly identified Lewis to her audience and reiterated that the singer "categorically denies" all allegations of misconduct. While the court has ruled on this specific injunction, the legal representative indicated that the team is reviewing the decision.
