Ronnie Radke isn’t done swinging. After losing his defamation suit against music critic Anthony Fantano, the Falling In Reverse frontman is now fighting back against a court order that would see him pay $40,700 in Fantano’s legal fees.
The case itself has been a circus. Radke originally filed against the wrong Anthony Fantano before correcting the paperwork, and even once fixed, the court ultimately sided with the YouTuber. The dismissal leaned on California’s anti SLAPP statute, a law designed to protect against lawsuits meant to muzzle free speech.
As reported by Strereogum – That ruling should have ended things, but in late August Radke’s attorneys formally objected to the fee order. In the filing, they called the $40k+ figure “excessive” and “grossly disproportionate” to the actual work performed. They argued Fantano’s legal team billed hours more in line with a case heading for trial than one dismissed early. Radke’s side also pointed to the lack of a submitted retainer agreement, saying it made the numbers “impossible to verify.”
Fantano, best known online as The Internet’s Busiest Music Nerd, hasn’t exactly stayed quiet. He posted a new video bluntly titled ‘He Sued Me (I WON)’, where he laid out his side and doubled down on the court’s ruling. For Fantano, the case is clear: he criticised Radke, the suit failed, and the legal costs are part of the fallout.
For Radke, though, the fight seems personal. He’s built a reputation on being combative with critics and outspoken online, and this legal clash with Fantano fits that pattern. Whether his objections gain traction or not, the dispute has already cemented itself as one of the strangest musician versus critic feuds in recent memory.
Right now, it’s unclear if Radke’s challenge will change the outcome or simply drag things out further. What is certain, the beef between the Falling In Reverse frontman and Fantano is still burning, and fans are watching to see if it escalates back into court, or just lives on in YouTube videos and Instagram rants.
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