The New York Times is facing renewed criticism and legal challenges regarding its September 24, 2025, front-page report on venture capitalist and author Amy Griffin, whose memoir "The Tell" details an adolescence that included a sexual assault. Dueling lawsuits have intensified over the Times' reporting, which critics argue cast doubt on Griffin's account and utilized questionable journalistic practices.
The Times article, titled "The Billionaire, the Psychedelics and the Best-Selling Memoir," suggested that Griffin may have appropriated the rape story of a former classmate for her own literary gain. This narrative has sparked a legal battle between Griffin and the classmate, identified as Jane Doe.
Central to the controversy is the alleged omission of a key interview from the Times' reporting. Legal filings indicate that Dominque Price, a contestant from "Temptation Island," was interviewed by a Times reporter approximately 19 days before the article's publication. According to court documents and a sworn declaration from Price, he informed the reporter that he had not worked for a talent agency and did not recognize the name of Jane Doe. Price stated he had no prior knowledge of Griffin or any involvement with "The Tell" or its related parties. A spokesperson for the Times stated that the dispute over whether Price and Jane Doe spoke was irrelevant to their article, as it did not claim Griffin misappropriated the story or mention Price.
Griffin's attorney, Eric Hageman, argued that the Times was aware Griffin had reported the alleged abuse to the Amarillo Police Department in August 2021, eight months before Jane Doe's alleged interaction with Price. Hageman asserted that Griffin could not have stolen a story she had already reported to the authorities.
Further scrutiny has fallen on the Times' decision to reveal details from a survivor's confidential book proposal, which led to the identification of a second individual, a family friend, who was allegedly involved in the events. The Times stated that Griffin publicly identified this individual by name in her book proposal, which was shared with numerous people in the publishing industry. However, others familiar with publishing practices consider such proposals, especially those requiring non-disclosure agreements, to be confidential.
Griffin's countersuit also claims the Times omitted details about a meeting between Griffin and Jane Doe. While the Times article vaguely stated they reconnected "in recent years," Jane Doe's lawsuit specified a meeting in Palm Springs in 2019. Griffin's legal team contends that had the Times provided this information, they could have proven Griffin was not in Palm Springs at that time. The Times defended the phrasing, stating "in recent years" was less confusing for an article focusing on events from 40 years prior.
The litigation follows similar questions raised about the Times' reporting on accusations against Graham Platner. Former public editor Margaret Sullivan noted in The Guardian that the Platner story's narrative approach arguably undermined accuser Lyndsey Fifield's allegations. Fifield stated that learning of the Times' alleged pattern of mistreating abuse survivors made her hesitant to trust them with her own story.
Critics also point to perceived tangents in the Griffin article, such as focus on her wealth and use of MDMA therapy, which they argue were irrelevant to her core allegation and served to discredit her. A spokesperson for the Times defended the article as an "interesting and important story about a major event in book publishing."