Friends of Missing Student Sue Terrell Owens for Defamation Over Alleged Racial Claims

Three friends of Nolan Wells sue NFL legend Terrell Owens over defamation after viral social media posts. Legal battle unfolds in Mississippi.

Editorial Desk

October 7, 2026 One Min Read

POLICY WIRE — Jackson, United States — Three friends of a Black college student who disappeared during a Fourth of July event in Mississippi have filed a defamation lawsuit against NFL Hall of Famer Terrell Owens.

The legal action comes after Owens posted a message on X urging immediate arrests, which the plaintiffs claim defamed their minors. The lawsuit also targets other content creators and figures like Rev. Al Sharpton and Sunny Hostin, citing controversial comments about the case.

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The three friends, under 21 and considered minors under Mississippi law, were part of a group that traveled to Horn Island on July 4. Wells’ body was found two days later, with autopsies unable to determine the cause of death. His family disputes the grand jury’s conclusion that his death was consistent with drowning.

Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)

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