Fired Rams Executive Sues Patriots Player For Instagram Post

BOSTON — A former ticket executive for the Los Angeles Rams filed a $1.75 million defamation lawsuit against New England Patriots safety Patrick Chung. Matthew Hogan was fired by the Rams after a text message he sent to his college roommate was posted on Chung's Instagram account. Hogan had sent the message to Matthew Weymouth, a friend from college who also manages Chung's social media accounts, after Chung was injured in Superbowl LIII in February.

"Patrick Chung is a bitch," Hogan wrote. Weymouth posted a screenshot of the message on Chung's Instagram account with the caption: "Matt Hogan from the @rams organization. This is disrespectful of you. I would never wish or say anything like this to anyone after they just broke their arm. You should be ashamed bro. Can’t even believe it. But I pray for happiness and good health for you because a real man."

The Rams subsequently fired Hogan. In his lawsuit, he bases his defamation claim on the fact that the Instagram post did not make it clear that Hogan was not sending the message directly to Chung. The posts have since been deleted from Chung's social media accounts. Hogan also named "others" in his lawsuit.

Dave Copeland can be reached at [email protected] or by calling 617-433-7851. Follow him on Twitter (@CopeWrites) and Facebook (/copewrites).