It might just be one of the most expensive social media posts ever made.
Influencer Abbie Chatfield has agreed to pay her former friend Heath Kelley $79,000 after being sued for defamation over a string of Instagram stories that reached hundreds of thousands of followers.
The payout, made by consent, was confirmed Thursday afternoon. Justice Wendy Abraham also ordered Chatfield to cover Mr Kelley’s legal costs “as agreed or assessed.”
It’s the latest development in a very modern kind of dispute - one that started in private DMs and ended up in the Federal Court.
The saga began when Chatfield shared private messages sent by Mr Kelley to her on Instagram earlier this year. In the exchange, Mr Kelley voiced his views on former Greens Party leader Adam Bandt and the Israel–Palestine conflict.
Mr Kelley claimed the posts were defamatory, arguing they suggested he “supports slaughter of children” in Palestine - and that sharing their private messages publicly breached confidentiality.
Chatfield and Kelley in happier times.
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The legal fallout
The court documents reveal Mr Kelley engaged high-profile defamation lawyer Sue Chrysanthou to represent him.
The case caught widespread attention not just because of Chatfield’s celebrity status - she first rose to fame as The Bachelor Australia’s 2019 runner-up - but because of what it says about the blurred lines between private communication and public exposure in the influencer age.
Chatfield has built her brand on being outspoken and politically progressive - a mix that’s earned her both admiration and backlash. This case, however, has put a legal lens on that authenticity.
A cautionary tale for creators and brands
The ruling lands as a sharp reminder that Instagram stories can have real-world consequences long after they disappear from a feed.
For influencers, journalists, and even brands navigating social media, it’s another signal that the digital grapevine isn’t immune to defamation law.
Private messages aren’t always private. And when an online spat spills into the courtroom, even the most seasoned content creators can find themselves paying for more than just boosted reach.
Because in the attention economy, it turns out virality can cost more than clicks.
