Is a person allowed to use parody as a defense in a defamation lawsuit?

In North Carolina, a person is allowed to use parody as a defense in a defamation lawsuit. Parody has been recognized as a viable defense when accused of defaming a person or organization. A parody is a work that imitates another work, usually for the purpose of making a humorous statement. The parody must be recognizable to an ordinary person as a parody or humorous imitation. In North Carolina, the plaintiff (the person filing the lawsuit) must prove that the defendant (the person being sued) made a false statement of fact about the plaintiff. If this is proven, then the burden then shifts to the defendant to prove the truth of his or her statement. If the statement is made in jest, and is reasonably recognizable as a parody, then the defendant can utilize parody as a defense. Parody is a valid defense against charges of defamation because it allows people to make statements about matters of public interest in a humorous way, without fear of being sued for defamation. In order for the defense to be successful, the parody must be recognized as such by the public. If the defendant is able to show that his or her statement was made in parody, and was recognizable as such, then the defendant can successfully use parody as a defense to the defamation lawsuit.

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Is a person allowed to use parody as a defense in a defamation lawsuit?

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