Spike Lee Offers Compensation After Tweeting Wrong Zimmerman Address In Florida To Followers

Posted: 30/03/2012 08:21 Updated: 30/03/2012 08:32   WENN

Spike Lee has agreed to give compensation to an elderly Florida couple whose address he published on the internet in connection with the death of teenager Trayvon Martin.

The He Got Game director thought he was retweeting the address of neighbourhood watch volunteer, George Zimmerman, who shot Martin dead in a Florida gated community on 26 February, sparking outrage and protests across the U.S.

However, the address he posted to his Twitter.com page was actually the home of Elaine and David McClain, who have a son named William George Zimmerman - no relation to the Zimmerman involved in the shooting case. They had to flee their home after their address was published.

Lee publicly apologised for the blunder, and the couple's attorney, Matt Morgan, has now revealed the moviemaker has offered them compensation.

Morgan says, "At this point in time, we have come to an agreement with Spike Lee and his attorneys, and at this point, the matter is fully resolved. Spike has agreed to compensate the McClains for their loss and for the disruption into their lives. He's taken full responsibility."

Elaine McClain also revealed the director apologised to them during a phone call, adding, "He was really kind. And when he called us, you could just tell he really felt bad about it. And it was just a slip, and I just know that he really, really has been concerned."

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Spike Lee has agreed to give compensation to an elderly Florida couple whose address he published on the internet in connection with the death of teenager Trayvon Martin. The He Got Game director t...
Spike Lee has agreed to give compensation to an elderly Florida couple whose address he published on the internet in connection with the death of teenager Trayvon Martin. The He Got Game director t...
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05:44 AM on 04/01/2012
Maybe Spike should just stick to making crappy movies that no one watches.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Stephen Thorpe
Every breath you take - I'll take one too!
09:30 AM on 03/30/2012
Spike did the right thing and he didn't hem and haw about it. He knew it was a faux paus and took responsability for his mistake. He was sincere and generous and he didn't waste any time resolving it. He didn't try to make any broader hey about it in the scope of the hostilities associated with this case.

Spike, you're alright!
06:16 PM on 03/30/2012
No, he's not "alright." He's an irresponsible idiot. Even if he'd have had the RIGHT Zimmerman's address, is it responsible to give that address out to all of his followers? Had some nutball decided to get some "justice", Lee might have been found culpable as an accessory.

But he didn't get it right, and the fact that he's owning up to it and paying now rather than in court later means mostly that he's got some sense of self-preservation.
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Stephen Thorpe
Every breath you take - I'll take one too!
07:46 PM on 03/30/2012
I agree, He shouldn't have done in in the first place. That is right.