James Hetfield Files $50 Million Defamation Bomb on The View: “You Ambushed Me on Live TV — Now Pay”
In a move that detonated across Hollywood and the metal world alike, Metallica frontman James Hetfield has unleashed a $50 million defamation lawsuit against ABC and The View, accusing the daytime powerhouse of turning a booked interview into a premeditated “public execution” that humiliated him in front of 3.8 million viewers.
The incident unfolded on November 18, 2025, when Hetfield appeared to promote his upcoming Netflix documentary James Hetfield: The Untold Story.
What began as light banter about sobriety and fatherhood pivoted without warning when Whoopi Goldberg read an old 2004 quote about Hetfield’s past struggles with anger, then asked live on air: “Do you still think you’re a monster, James?” The audience gasped as co-host Joy Behar followed with, “Some fans say you’ve mellowed too much—are you even metal anymore?” Hetfield, visibly stunned, attempted to respond, but producers cut to commercial while Sunny Hostin smirked, “Guess the monster’s shy today.”
Hetfield’s legal team filed the 42-page complaint in Los Angeles Superior Court the next morning, alleging defamation per se, false light, and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
The suit claims producers deliberately edited the pre-interview questionnaire to hide the planned attack, then ambushed him with out-of-context quotes from a 20-year-old interview. “They lured him under false pretenses, then weaponized the platform to humiliate a recovering addict for ratings,” the filing states. It further accuses the hosts of “smirking, eye-rolling, and coordinated mockery” designed to portray Hetfield as “a washed-up, hypocritical has-been.”
Within 24 hours the clip exploded to 94 million views, spawning memes of Hetfield’s stunned face and hashtags #CancelTheView and #StandWithHetfield.
Metallica fans flooded ABC’s switchboard; the network’s apology hotline crashed twice. Lars Ulrich posted a black square with the caption “Cowards.” Dave Mustaine tweeted “First time I’ve ever rooted for James.” Even non-metal voices joined: Corey Taylor called it “disgusting,” while Billie Eilish wrote, “Leave recovering people alone.”
ABC yanked the episode from Hulu and issued a statement calling the segment “regrettable,” but stopped short of apology.
Insiders say executives are in panic mode: sponsor boycotts from Monster Energy and Gibson Guitars have already cost seven figures, and analysts predict the case could set precedent for “ambush interview liability.” Legal experts say the $50 million ask—$25M compensatory, $25M punitive—is calculated to bankrupt the show if it loses.
Hetfield himself broke silence on Instagram Live from his Colorado ranch, voice calm but eyes burning.
“I spent twenty years learning not to punch walls,” he said. “I’m not punching them now. I’m using the system they tried to bury me with. This isn’t about money. It’s about never letting another artist walk into that studio thinking they’re safe.” He ended with three words: “See you in court.”
The View has gone dark on social media.
ABC lawyers are reportedly begging for settlement.
And James Hetfield—once the angry young man who screamed at the world—just proved the most dangerous version of him is the one who finally learned how to fight back without raising his fists.
You defamed the wrong monster.
Now the monster brought receipts.
And the price tag is fifty million reasons to never do it again.
