It's been a few days since Netflix released The Manhattan Alien Abduction, and the streamer is already facing accusations and a lawsuit. At the heart of this new docuseries is Linda Napolitano, the woman who claimed to have been abducted by aliens in 1989, and still stands by the claim.
The Manhattan Alien Abduction delves into the insights of investigators as they analyze the case to determine if there's evidence to prove the claim or if Napolitano shared a fabricated story. With expert insights, the docuseries also features interviews and footage to let viewers see the story from both sides.
However, Netflix has been facing challenges lately, as Linda Napolitano filed a complaint just two days before The Manhattan Alien Abduction came out. Napolitano demanded compensation for six different claims including defamation, misinterpretation of character, fraud, and breach of good faith. She even attempted to halt the release of the docuseries, but Netflix went ahead with the planned schedule. Read more to explore full details.
Exploring details of the lawsuit filed by the subject of The Manhattan Alien Abduction against Netflix
Before we dig into the lawsuit filed by Linda Napolitano against Netflix in the New York Supreme Court, here's a brief about the story of the Manhattan Alien Abduction: The newly released docuseries is based on Napolitano, a New York housewife, who claimed that she was taken away by aliens in 1989 from her 12th-floor apartment in lower Manhattan.
From Linda Napolitano to key figures like Carol Rainey, Budd Hopkins, and security agents Richard and Dan, The Manhattan Alien Abduction features them all. Rainey, who passed away in 2023, was recorded for the series, while her ex-husband and UFO investigator Hopkins appears only in the archival footage, as he died in 2011. As for the mysterious figures Richard and Dan, they didn't appear, but are crucial for the case.
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Though Linda Napolitano shared her experience in the docuseries by herself, she isn't happy with the portrayal of her character. Furthermore, Napolitano isn't the only one who filed the lawsuit against Netflix, as two other figures: Peter Robbins, who was a former colleague and pal to Budd Hopkins, and the estate of Hopkins who managed his assets, accompanied her.
The defendants in the lawsuit include Netflix, Top Hat Productions, Witnessed Productions, Story Films, and the estate of Carol Rainey. Napolitano claims that they have damaged her public image and didn't portray her story well. The allegations made by Linda Napolitano are:
Defamation: The lawsuit argues that Netflix's The Manhattan Alien Abduction features Linda Napolitano as a villain. She claimed in the complaint that the docuseries is negatively impacting her public image and credibility.
Fraud: Another allegation made by the subject is that she was promised an accurate depiction of her story, including a neutral interview with Carol Rainey. She alleges that the producers promised to highlight her true experience, but after the final cut, she wasn't satisfied.
Breach of good faith: Napolitano has also claimed that Netflix didn't commit to good faith while making The Manhattan Alien Abduction. Per Today.com, the subject and her co-plaintiffs feel “egregiously deceived” about the intentions of the docuseries.
Misrepresentation of Character: The complaint also argues how Napolitano and Carol Rainey are featured in the docuseries. Per the lawsuit, The Manhattan Alien Abduction not only harmed Napolitano's image, but also framed a conflict between her and Rainey. The complaint reads:
"(Napolitano) was not remotely close to be like or appear as the person that is on screen, never had any bone to pick with Carol Rainey."
The story became highly controversial as Linda Napolitano never stepped back from her claim, and Carol Rainey believed that the story was completely made up. However, in the Netflix docuseries, viewers get to analyze both sides as it blends mystery and suspense in the unusual case.
What happened in Netflix's The Manhattan Alien Abduction?
The Manhattan Alien Abduction is a three-part docuseries that delves into the story that was shared by Linda Napolitano about her abduction by aliens. The docuseries opens with Napolitano expressing her experience, and arguing with Carol Rainey, who had claimed that Napolitano's story isn't based on real events.
The subject also shared her story with the late UFO investigator Budd Hopkins, who also wrote a book titled Witnessed: The True Story of the Brooklyn Bridge Abduction, revealing details about the case. Napolitano discussed her experiences with Hopkins and as seen in the docuseries, she remembers being inside an examination room where a device was placed inside her nose.
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Initially, Napolitano thought it was a dream, but she soon realized that she has been abducted after noticing a lump in her nose. Not only this, but the docuseries also goes on to reveal that there were around twenty-three witnesses who saw a woman in the sky at the time of the alleged incident described by Napolitano.
However, Carol Rainey didn't seem to have believed Linda Napolitano in any way, as she was skeptical about the story throughout the whole time that it was being narrated.
Not only did she claim it as a made-up story, but she also shed light on and seriously questioned Budd Hopkins' ethics. Rainey believed that the UFO investigator lost objectivity while he was examining Napolitano's case. On the other hand, Linda Napolitano kept denying Rainey's accusations as she believed that Rainey was using the abduction case in order to take revenge on Hopkins.
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