Slander May 2026

"It's only slander if it's false," say legal analysts, noting that malicious rumors are often confused with protected, albeit unkind, opinions. An opinion, no matter how nasty, is generally not actionable. Slander must misrepresent facts.

Slander is legally defined as a false and defamatory oral statement made to a third party. Unlike libel, which involves written or permanent media, slander traditionally refers to fleeting, spoken words. However, the line is blurring; a recorded video of a slanderous rant shared on social media can often be treated as libel due to its lasting, broadcast nature. slander

Slander and Defamation of Character: A 101 - Bochetto & Lentz "It's only slander if it's false," say legal