Woman Sues Bestselling Memoirist Over Alleged Theft of Sexual Abuse Story

Complaint claims author Amy Griffin's book "The Tell" used details from plaintiff's personal experience without permission.

Published on Mar. 7, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A woman has filed a lawsuit against author and venture capitalist Amy Griffin, alleging that Griffin's bestselling 2025 memoir "The Tell" stole details from the plaintiff's own experience of childhood sexual abuse. The plaintiff, identified as Jane Doe, claims the descriptions of abuse in Griffin's book match her own assaults by a teacher, and that Griffin had reason to know about the abuse through a prior meeting and conversation with the plaintiff's talent agent.

Why it matters

This case raises serious questions about the boundaries of memoir writing and the potential exploitation of personal trauma. If the allegations are true, it could set a precedent around the legal protections for victims of abuse whose stories are used without consent, even in acclaimed works of nonfiction.

The details

In the lawsuit filed in Los Angeles Superior Court, the plaintiff alleges that Griffin's descriptions of childhood sexual abuse in "The Tell" were stolen directly from the plaintiff's own experience. The suit claims the abuse details match the plaintiff's assaults by a different teacher at a school dance and in a school bathroom. The plaintiff says she met with Griffin in 2019, but did not discuss the sexual abuse, and later learned the details had been included in the book after being contacted by a New York Times reporter investigating the memoir's reliability.

  • The Tell was published in 2025.
  • The plaintiff met with Griffin in California in 2019.
  • The New York Times published a story raising questions about "The Tell" in September.

The players

Jane Doe

The plaintiff in the lawsuit, who alleges her personal story of sexual abuse was used without permission in Amy Griffin's memoir "The Tell".

Amy Griffin

The author of the bestselling 2025 memoir "The Tell", which the plaintiff claims stole details from her own experience of childhood sexual abuse.

The New York Times

The newspaper that published a story in September 2026 raising questions about the reliability of the memories described in "The Tell".

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“We look forward to exposing these meritless claims in court, as well as the deeply flawed New York Times reporting that is at the center of it.”

— Griffin's attorney

“We're confident in the accuracy of our reporting.”

— New York Times representative

What’s next

The judge will decide whether to allow the lawsuit to proceed and determine if there is sufficient evidence to support the plaintiff's claims against Griffin and her publishers.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ethical minefield that memoirists must navigate, balancing the need to tell their own stories with the potential to inadvertently or intentionally exploit the experiences of others. It raises important questions about consent, privacy, and the boundaries of creative nonfiction.