Napalm Girl Defamation Case.
Carl Robinson
Nick Ut’s criminal defamation case in France is now set for early 2027, with the VII Foundation and Netflix France summoned under the 1881 Press Law. Nick Ut’s defamation case against Netflix in France now has a trial window: February–March 2027 in the small court at Tarascon. Ut is seeking €100,000 in damages plus €20,000 in legal costs over claims made in the Netflix documentary The Girl in the Picture, which suggested his Pulitzer‑winning “Napalm Girl” photo was staged. His lawyer told AFP the accusations caused “serious damage” to Ut’s professional integrity. Netflix declined comment.
The case proceeds under France’s 1881 Press Law, which allows a direct summons without a magistrate’s investigation. Ut says he’ll donate any compensation to charity. No word yet on Netflix’s legal posture or whether VII will intervene. The only real news here is the calendar: this thing will run well into 2027, a reminder that the controversy didn’t vanish — it just shifted jurisdictions.
Carl Robinson