“American Sniper” is one of the more controversial films to come out recently, although the negativity aimed at it isn’t due to its violent content, as many would probably guess. Rather, the controversy has a more political nature this time, and the situation has reached the point where it’s attracted the attention of former Minnesota Governor Jesse Ventura. Ventura recently spoke against the 2012 memoir which served as the basis for the new film, and now he’s added to his statements, inciting even more controversy on the topic.
According to Jesse Ventura in an episode of his podcast, the story told in the book is actually fabricated, and has lots of fictional elements added into it. Ventura, who is a Navy veteran, previously won a defamation lawsuit against Chris Kyle, before Kyle passed away at a gun range in 2013. The lawsuit was based on the fact that Kyle accused Ventura of speaking out against the Navy SEALs, attributing some very controversial statements to him. Kyle had initially only referred to Ventura as “Scruff Face”, but later identified the person behind the nickname as Jesse Ventura during public interviews.
Ventura’s side of the story is that the treason attributed to Scruff Face in the book (and subsequently to Ventura himself) never actually happened, and he was deeply offended by the accusations. In addition, Kyle had made claims that Ventura had physically attacked him at a bar, something which Ventura also claims never happened and was just a marketing ploy by Kyle.
Kyle’s death didn’t actually stop Ventura’s lawsuit in the end, as he just switched the defendant to his now-widow, Taya, who had become the executor of Kyle’s estate. Ventura ended up winning the lawsuit in 2014, receiving $1,8 million in total, part of which was for unjust enrichment, and another portion for defamation.
Something that Ventura also pointed out was that he had attempted to settle the disagreement multiple times before deciding to take it to court, and he had been trying to avoid an actual legal battle, although in the end his efforts proved unsuccessful, according to his account. He also doesn’t feel remorseful for being awarded the compensation, as he feels that the jury made their own, appropriate decision in the situation and he has no say in that.
Taya has tried to file a motion for a new trial, but she was denied two months ago in November. It seems that the case isn’t quite over for her, as her attorneys have announced an intent to appeal the decision and try to move forward with the motion. Ventura hasn’t responded, though it seems like he’s perfectly prepared for an even longer legal battle.
Over and over we’re reading Jesse Ventura saying, to be a hero, one must be honorable. I have a single question for Mr. Ventura. What, exactly, is honorable about going after a military widow (a HERO’S widow) for something she had nothing to do with?