Actor James Woods Sues Anonymous Twitter Trolls

In new court papers stemming from his defamation case against an anonymous Twitter user, James Woods says allegations that he uses cocaine and is a sex offender are false and have hurt his reputation built during a 45-year Hollywood career.

“I have not now, nor have ever been, a coke fiend or cocaine addict,” the Oscar-nominated actor says in a sworn declaration dated Thursday. “In fact, I have never done cocaine. I am also not, and have never been, a registered sex offender.”

Woods says the false statements have “now jeopardized my good name and reputation on an international scale.”

Woods filed suit on July 29 against an unnamed Twitter user -- referred to in court papers as both “AL” and “John Doe” -- who the actor says used Twitter on July 15 to accuse him of being a cocaine addict.

The suit also maintains that on Aug. 18, another anonymous Twitter posting under the name T.G. Emerson called Woods a “notorious coke fiend and a registered sex offender.”

Attorneys for AL have filed a motion to dismiss the case against their client on free-speech grounds. But in the new court papers that include Woods’ declaration, the actor’s lawyers say they want to take AL’s deposition to determine his identity and learn what basis he has for calling Woods a cocaine addict.

Woods’ attorneys also want to subpoena Twitter to obtain TG’s identity and add him or her as a defendant.

Woods says his Twitter handle, @RealJamesWoods, has more than 250,000 followers.

“My followers include newscasters, entertainment celebrities, professional people, employers, friends, enemies, fans and others who appear interested in my views,” Woods says. “I am a prolific user of Twitter and regularly tweet my opinions on entertainment (and) social and political issues.”

Woods says AL “stepped over the line” with the cocaine use allegation and that he was “appalled and shocked by AL’s outrageously false statement.”

Woods says he has never spoken with AL or TG and that no media organization or “reputable source” has accused him of the same or similar wrongdoing.

“It appears to me that based on AL’s prior offensive remarks, the sole reason for the false statement was to do me harm and in doing such harm, AL had a reckless disregard for the truth,” Woods says.

The 68-year-old actor’s film credits include roles in “Nixon,” “Salvador,” “Casino,” “Once Upon a Time in America” and “The Onion Field.”

City News Service; Photo: Wikimedia Commons