**Mario Lopez Responds After Defamation Lawsuit by Former NFL Cheerleader Is Thrown Out**
*October 3, 2025, 6:05 p.m. ET*
Mario Lopez has finally addressed the defamation lawsuit filed against him by former NFL cheerleader Desiree Townsend, RadarOnline.com can reveal—after a judge dismissed the charges.
Townsend had been engaged in a months-long legal battle with the former *Saved By the Bell* star. The lawsuit stemmed from Lopez sharing and commenting on a news story that questioned Townsend’s mental health. Townsend sued Lopez, his employer NBC, *Inside Edition*, and even his own legal team, demanding $150 million in damages.
From the outset, Townsend claimed her name and reputation were damaged after Lopez, 51, shared an old *Inside Edition* story about her on Instagram. His post read: “There’s gotta be some kind of award for this performance,” alongside hashtags #MethodActor and #OscarWorthy.
Lopez maintained that his comments were protected under free speech and filed an anti-SLAPP motion—an expedited legal process designed to quickly dismiss lawsuits filed against public figures on such grounds. The judge agreed, resulting in the dismissal of Townsend’s claims.
—
### Lopez Calls Lawsuit “Ridiculous” Following Dismissal
After months of silence on the matter, Lopez addressed the lawsuit on his radio show, describing the ordeal as “unusual.”
“It was an absolutely ridiculous lawsuit, but nonetheless, you kind of have to deal with it,” he said on *On with Mario Lopez*.
Lopez gave a special shout-out to his defense team at the renowned law firm Geragos & Geragos, celebrating the legal win without mentioning Townsend by name.
“A judge has officially thrown it out and rewarded me. Victory,” Lopez declared. “And now this person is responsible for my legal fees and hopefully out of our lives forever.”
His radio co-host and wife, Courtney Lopez, also expressed relief, admitting, “It was stressful because it was just so unnecessary that we were even dealing with something like this.”
—
### Townsend Vows to Appeal
Despite the dismissal, Townsend told RadarOnline.com that she intends to file appeals and pursue other legal avenues.
“It’s on to the appellate courts now!” she said. “This is where real change happens and where case law is shaped.”
Townsend’s immediate focus will be on appealing the restraining order Lopez was granted against her, which requires her to stay at least 100 yards away from him and his family.
“Right now, my focus is on appealing the restraining order decision,” she shared. “One of the grounds for the appeal is that the anti-SLAPP motion was never properly heard, and Mario’s team presented no opposition evidence.”
—
### The Restraining Order Against Townsend
The restraining order was issued after Townsend surprised Lopez at his home to serve him legal papers. RadarOnline.com previously shared a video showing Townsend accompanying a process server to Lopez’s residence to deliver the defamation lawsuit.
In response, Lopez took legal action, securing the restraining order. The order prohibits Townsend from coming within 100 yards of Lopez or his family.
Court documents obtained by RadarOnline.com reveal Lopez’s argument for the order:
“Mr. Lopez was harmed by the most recent harassment when Ms. Townsend arrived at his home on Father’s Day with a process server, causing chaos and fear for his young children and family members who witnessed the event.
She then escalated the harm by posting a video of the service on TikTok, exposing his family and home address to millions of viewers, placing them at risk of further harassment, public ridicule, and potential physical danger.”
—
As the legal saga continues, both parties appear prepared to pursue their next steps in court. We will keep you updated on any new developments.
https://radaronline.com/p/mario-lopez-breaks-silence-flu-shot-cheerleader-defamation-lawsuit-charges-dismissed/
