Can You Sue For Girlfriend’s Hot Sauce Prank? Legal Expert Insights

A girlfriend in a video pranked her boyfriend with the excess hot sauce prank. The footage became hot news on TikTok because everyone was talking about it. But why? We see lovers prank each other constantly, especially in this internet era. 

If you go to your social media right now, you will see many videos of couples pranking each other. Some do it for money, a phenomenon known as content creation. So why was the hot sauce prank video trending? Well, pranking someone is funny until something terrible happens. 

What Happened to the Boyfriend in the Hot Sauce Prank?

The girlfriend in the video added a lot of hot sauce to a burger and gave it to her boyfriend. He wasn’t aware, so he ate it. He started breathing fast and drinking much water as his mouth was hot. All the while, the girlfriend just sat there and pretended like nothing was happening.

Many people felt bad for the hot sauce prank boyfriend and asked if he could sue the girlfriend for doing that. So, the famous lawyer Ugo Lord explains the legal consequences. He said it is 100% illegal to do something like this.

According to him, most jurisdictions would consider the act as poison. He explained that the moment you post a crime on social media, it is up to the prosecution. Prosecutors have the right to do whatever they want with the video.

Plus, there is a belief that if your boyfriend doesn’t press charges, you are free from the charges against you. However, that is not the case in the hot sauce prank video because any prosecutor who sees this video can decide to set an example. They can put up charges against her. And since the evidence is out there, she can be found guilty of poisoning her boyfriend with hot sauce.

Can You Sue Someone for Posting a Hot Sauce Prank Video of You on Social Media?

It is tough to delete something from the Internet. For example, if someone posts a private video of you that goes viral, you can not delete it because some people have already saved it on their phones. It can be unpleasant, mainly if you don’t consent. In the United States, you can sue someone for taking a hot sauce prank video or picture of you without consent.

Defamation

When someone posts a hot sauce prank video or image of you that wrongly accuses you of something you didn’t do, it is known as defamation. In the United States, every state has its laws on defamation. However, if there is evidence that the video or photo posted damages your reputation, you can sue.

You can file a civil lawsuit for slander against the person. If you win the case, the person will pay you money. However, the person will not go to jail or have any criminal record.  

Invasion of Privacy

It is your right to enjoy your privacy. So, if someone violates it, like in the case of the hot sauce prank, you have the right to sue. Just like defamation, every state has its way of punishment. Also, there are different forms of invasion of privacy. They include:

• False light happens when someone maliciously shares wrong information about you—telling the truth in a way that makes you the victim, the wrong person.

• The act of appropriation is when someone uses your photo or name for commercial profit without your permission, especially if the act can destroy you in any way.

• Disclosure: You can sue someone for disclosure if they share private or confidential information about you with the public—information that you don’t want the public to know. 

• Intrusion: The act of intrusion, sometimes known as intrusion of seclusion, is when someone invades your private space, such as your house.

Publicity Right 

When someone violates your publicity rights, like in the hot sauce prank, they use your picture to make money without your permission. You can only sue for this if the general public can identify you from the image you used. If someone posts a picture of you on Facebook or Instagram without your permission, and you beg them to take it down, and they refuse, you can sue.

Conclusion

Consider the potential consequences before sharing anything online, as your actions can have legal implications. Even if authorities don’t file charges initially, posting certain content can still subject you to legal repercussions. Take, for example, the girlfriend who shared a video of a hot sauce prank. Although it may have seemed harmless, her involvement in the prank could leave her vulnerable to prosecution by a determined prosecutor.