Florida Coffee Shop Sues Customer Over Viral Claim of Celebrating Charlie Kirk's Murder

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The owners of Amelia Island Coffee in Fernandina Beach, Florida, have filed a federal defamation lawsuit against an Atlanta resident named Blake Buchanan. The lawsuit alleges that Buchanan made a widely disseminated Facebook post claiming the coffee shop's employees were "openly celebrating Charlie Kirk's murder," which the shop flatly denies. The complaint states that no employee made any statement about Charlie Kirk, and that the only interaction was an employee complimenting a customer's t-shirt. The lawsuit argues Buchanan's post exposed the owners and employees to threats of violence and has caused significant monetary damages to the business due to lost customers.

Why it matters

This case highlights the potential legal consequences businesses can face from the spread of false information on social media, especially when it leads to threats against employees and damages the company's reputation and bottom line. It also raises questions about the limits of free speech protections when posts are deemed to be defamatory.

The details

According to the federal defamation lawsuit, Blake Buchanan made a Facebook post in a local group with 11,700 members claiming that "the employees of Amelia Island coffee are openly celebrating Charlie Kirk's murder today." Buchanan later doubled down on the claim in comments. The post sparked a wave of backlash, with users calling the allegation "disgusting" and threatening to boycott the business. Amelia Island Coffee flatly denies the allegations, stating that "in fact, no statement was made by any employee of Amelia Island Coffee about Charlie Kirk at all" and that the only interaction was an employee complimenting a customer's t-shirt. The lawsuit argues Buchanan's post exposed the owners and employees to "threats of violence or actual violence" and has caused "irreparable harm to its... reputation" as well as "significant... monetary damages to its business" due to lost customers.

• The Facebook post was made on March 13, 2026.

What they’re saying

What’s next

The judge will likely need to rule on whether Buchanan's Facebook post is protected by free speech or constitutes defamation against Amelia Island Coffee.