LOS ANGELES—The judge in a defamation lawsuit filed by adult performer Emily Willis against fellow star Gianna Dior dismissed the case Monday without prejudice, MyNewsLA.com reports.
The suit was prompted due to a video allegedly depicting women engaging in sexual acts with a dog that circulated among adult industry members in 2021. The dispute occurred when Dior insinuated on social media that Willis was one of the women in the video engaging in the acts. Willis subsequently sued Dior for $5 million in damages.
Per the latest development, the suit against Dior is now no more because no one showed up on Willis's behalf for a scheduled proceeding on the case with Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Michael Small. This has been a common issue for plaintiff Willis, who is currently in an incapacitated state and unable to appear before the court.
AVN reported in March 2025 that Judge Small warned the parties in the case that the complaint would be dismissed if no one appeared on behalf of the infirm Willis. At the time, her mother was said to be advocating for her after an attorney representing the plaintiff was granted leave from the case in February for supposed communication breakdowns with Willis and her mother.
Counsel representing Gianna Dior was present for the hearing on Monday. Due to non-appearances, per the judge's warnings, the case was dismissed without prejudice.
That means the case can be revived with a proper explanation filed with the judge. The likelihood of this case being revived is, however, remote. Before dismissal, Willis's mother needed to file a motion for a guardian ad litem for the case to proceed. A guardian ad litem is someone appointed by the court to act on behalf of a minor or incapacitated individual unable to represent themselves. This never happened.
It was first reported by the tabloid TMZ in February 2024 that Willis was hospitalized after what was believed at the time to be an overdose. It was later revealed that Willis had suffered a heart attack at the Malibu rehabilitation facility where she had admitted herself for ketamine addiction. Her mother sued the facility in December, alleging negligence in its care of her daughter. That case remains ongoing.
