Jill Ellis files defamation lawsuit against former employee
San Diego Wave FC president Jill Ellis filed a legal complaint alleging defamation against former Wave video and creative manager Brittany Alvarado on Monday, July 29, 2024.
The filing stems from claims made by Alvarado in social media posts to Instagram and X, formerly known as Twitter, on July 3, 2024. The posts alleged discrimination and abuse perpetrated by leadership in the club, and specifically called on the NWSL to remove Jill Ellis from Wave FC.
The filing opens with a preliminary statement that called Alvarado’s claims about Ellis “completely false and defamatory.”
“(Alvarado) voluntarily resigned, and then undertook a completely unexpected and malicious campaign to defame Ellis and destroy her hard-earned stellar reputation and livelihood, with highly damaging and scandalous allegations, falsely accusing Ellis… of ‘abusive leadership’ and ‘life-altering and devastating’ mistreatment and behaviors that have allegedly ‘compromised’ the lives and mental health of the club’s employees.”
The 23-page document goes on to allege that an email published by Alvarado was fabricated and that she “is responsible for, took a responsible part in, was actively involved with, and/or materially contributed to the generation, creation, publication, and/or illegality of the fake emails and text message or contributed to generation, and/or illegality of the fake emails and text message.”
The document goes on to describe Alvarado’s time as an employee of the club saying the Wave “had serious issues with Alavarado’s performance and conduct from the beginning of her employment with the team.”
The legal complaint gives examples of multiple alleged instances of Alvarado fraternizing with players which violated the club’s rule to maintain professional boundaries with players. It specifically described instances on October 15, 2023, when the team won the NWSL Shield, about Alvarado celebrating alongside players instead of capturing the moment on video.
The complaint said among the damages Ellis faces included “a long-time sponsor to cancel a previously scheduled speaking engagement with Ellis; another organization to cease negotiations for Ellis to present a keynote address at an event in September; and the postponement of an honorary degree from a prestigious university.”
