Kim Kardashian Sued for Mistaken Identity in Death Row Case

Kim Kardashian is once again making headlines, but this time, it's not for her business empire or high-profile relationships—she's being sued for a social media mishap that mistakenly linked an innocent man to a death row case.

The lawsuit, filed by New York project manager Ivan Cantu, claims that Kardashian wrongly identified him as a Texas death row inmate in a social media post meant to highlight a criminal justice issue. Now, Cantu is seeking damages for what he says was public humiliation and emotional distress caused by the mix-up.

Back in February 2024, Kim Kardashian posted an image of Cantu on her social media, believing it was a different man—Texas inmate Ivan “Abner” Cantu, who was scheduled for execution.

The reality star and entrepreneur, who has been a vocal advocate for criminal justice reform, was trying to draw attention to the case, but in doing so, she posted the wrong person’s photo.

The real Ivan “Abner” Cantu was ultimately executed, but not before Kardashian’s post had gone viral. Despite quickly deleting the incorrect image, the damage had already been done.

Now, the other Ivan Cantu, a completely unrelated man, is taking Kardashian to court, claiming that the misidentification subjected him to widespread ridicule, contempt, and public shaming.

According to the lawsuit, Cantu has suffered serious emotional distress as a result of Kardashian’s mistake. He claims the ordeal led to headaches, nightmares, PTSD, and even the need for medical and psychological treatment.

Being falsely linked to a death row case, especially on such a massive platform, has caused irreparable harm to his reputation, he alleges. His lawsuit states that Kardashian's social media reach—totaling hundreds of millions of followers—magnified the impact, making it impossible to simply move on from the mistake.

Kim’s legal team is downplaying the lawsuit, with her attorney, Michael Rhodes, releasing a statement that describes the situation as an unfortunate but innocent error.

"It was a simple mistake of using the public photo of another man with the same name to promote Kim’s longstanding commitment to the cause of criminal justice reform. The image was taken down almost immediately once the error was discovered. We’d prefer to solve this without litigation, but of course, we will defend Kim as needed."

Despite the legal team's attempt to brush it off as a minor mistake, Cantu insists that the damage is done. In his initial public response back in February, he blasted Kardashian and her team for their negligence, calling them "idiots" for not verifying the identity before posting his picture.

This isn’t the first time Kim Kardashian’s involvement in criminal justice reform has led to controversy. While she has played a crucial role in advocating for the release of wrongfully convicted prisoners, her influence in the legal space has been met with skepticism.

Critics argue that her high-profile interventions sometimes do more harm than good, with this latest lawsuit adding to the debate over the consequences of her actions.

Additionally, the Kardashian-Jenner family is no stranger to legal drama. From business lawsuits to personal scandals, they seem to constantly be at the center of some controversy.

This latest lawsuit only fuels the ongoing narrative that their influence, while powerful, can often have unintended consequences.

While Kim Kardashian’s legal team seems confident in resolving the matter outside of court, it remains to be seen whether Cantu will accept a settlement or push for a trial.

If the case moves forward, it could shine a spotlight on the responsibility of celebrities with massive platforms and how quickly misinformation can spread—even unintentionally.

In the meantime, Kardashian continues to juggle her legal studies, SKIMS empire, and high-profile social life. But with yet another lawsuit on her hands, the question remains: Will Kim’s latest legal controversy fade away, or is this just another chapter in the never-ending Kardashian drama?