Author of Oprah's Book Club Pick Accused of Using Classmate's Assault Story

Amy Griffin's memoir The Tell is at the center of a lawsuit alleging she unlawfully used a former classmate's private information.

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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Amy Griffin, the author of the Oprah's Book Club selection The Tell, is being sued by a former classmate who claims Griffin used her sexual assault story and private information without consent in the memoir. The classmate, identified as Jane Doe, alleges Griffin's book disclosed details about the assault she experienced, causing her emotional distress. Both parties' lawyers deny the claims and are preparing for a courtroom battle.

Why it matters

This case raises concerns about the ethics of memoir writing and the potential exploitation of survivors' stories without their permission. It also highlights the challenges authors face in balancing their personal narratives with the privacy rights of others mentioned in their work.

The details

In The Tell, Griffin claims to have recovered repressed memories of childhood sexual abuse while participating in illegal psychedelic-drug therapy. The book became a New York Times bestseller and was promoted by several celebrities. However, Jane Doe alleges that two specific incidents described in the book actually happened to her, not Griffin, and that her identity and private information were used without her consent. The lawsuit accuses Griffin of invasion of privacy, negligence, and infliction of emotional distress.

  • The Tell was published in March 2025 and selected as Oprah's 112th book club pick.
  • The lawsuit was filed on March 4, 2026.

The players

Amy Griffin

The author of the memoir The Tell, which is at the center of the lawsuit.

Jane Doe

A former classmate of Griffin's who is suing the author, claiming her sexual assault story and private information were used in the memoir without her consent.

Sam Lansky

A ghostwriter who worked on The Tell and is named in the lawsuit.

Penguin Random House

The publisher of The Tell and a defendant in the lawsuit.

The Dial Press

The imprint that published The Tell and a defendant in the lawsuit.

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What they’re saying

“We look forward to exposing these meritless claims in court and are confident the deeply flawed reporting on Griffin and The Tell will be corrected.”

— Thomas A. Clare, Lawyer for Amy Griffin (The New York Times)

What’s next

The judge will decide whether to allow the case to proceed to trial.

The takeaway

This lawsuit highlights the complex ethical issues surrounding memoir writing and the need for authors to balance their personal narratives with the privacy rights of others mentioned in their work, especially when it involves sensitive topics like sexual assault.