Hey Reddit, hope you’re all doing well!

I was pointed here by a friend after something weird happened yesterday, and I could really use some outside perspective.

On April 3rd, I tried to buy a set of speakers from someone on Facebook Marketplace. The seller was also located in Ontario, Canada—same city as me. After a bit of chatting, they asked when I could come pick them up. At the time, I was on vacation at Walt Disney World in Florida, and I let them know I wouldn’t be back until April 6th.

As soon as I told them I was out of the country, they called me a “fucking filthy scammer.” I replied that I wasn’t and even sent a screenshot from Apple Maps showing I was at Disney World. They then told me to “fuck off,” left the chat, and blocked me.

Later that day, Facebook prompted me to leave a review for the seller. I was still pretty annoyed by how rude they were, so I left a short (and yeah, kind of vulgar) review that said:

“What an asshole, about to say I was available for a pickup on the 7th and ended the chat. Dick.”

Fast forward to April 21st, and I get this message in my inbox:

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Subject: Defamatory and Abusive Review on Facebook Marketplace

Dear OP (aka “Marki”),

This letter serves as a formal cease and desist notice regarding your recent conduct on Facebook Marketplace. On or around April 3rd, 2025, you posted a public review on my Marketplace profile in which you referred to me using vulgar and defamatory language, including calling me a “dick” and an “asshole.”

Let it be clearly stated that we have never entered into any transaction or agreement, and your review is therefore entirely unjustified. It contains false, abusive, and defamatory claims that were made publicly and with intent to harm my reputation.

This behaviour is in violation of the Defamation Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. D.7, and principles established under Canadian common law, which protect individuals from harm caused by false and malicious statements published to others. Your review is visible to the public, misrepresents the facts, and has the potential to cause serious reputational harm.

I hereby demand that you: 1. Immediately remove the defamatory review from Facebook Marketplace and any related platforms where it may have been posted; 2. Cease and desist from making or publishing any further false, defamatory, abusive, or harassing statements about me in any medium; and 3. Refrain from further contact with me unless it is to confirm compliance with this notice. 4. Refrain from any further defamatory actions against me.

It is your personal responsibility to remove the defamatory content, or to ensure that Facebook removes it. If the review remains online beyond 72 hours from the date of this notice, I will pursue all legal remedies available to me, including a civil claim for defamation and damages.

This letter is issued without prejudice to any legal rights I may exercise in response to your conduct, all of which are expressly reserved.

Sincerely, Facebook Seller

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Now look—I’ll admit I could’ve worded my review better. I was irritated and didn’t think much before posting. But this feels like a massive overreaction.

So, Reddit: • AITA for how I responded? • Is this guy just blowing things out of proportion? • Do I have anything to worry about legally? • Also, as far as I can tell, Facebook doesn’t allow users to remove reviews of Marketplace sellers. So I’m not even sure I can take it down.

What would you do in my situation?

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Edit: I looked up the statute he referenced—Defamation Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. D.7—and as far as I can tell, it doesn’t actually exist. There’s no such statute listed under Ontario or Canadian law by that exact name or citation. It looks like he either made it up, got the name wrong, or just pulled something out of thin air to try and scare me. Not sure if this was a bluff or if he genuinely thinks it’s real, but either way, it doesn’t seem legit.

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Edit 2: I responded to his letter with the following:

Dear Seller

Your cease and desist letter is completely without legal merit and reflects a clear misunderstanding of Canadian defamation law.

Let me be clear: your threat holds no legal weight. The statement I posted on Facebook Marketplace is an expression of my personal opinion based on an actual interaction with you. As such, it is protected by Section 2(b) of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, which guarantees freedom of expression.

The Supreme Court of Canada has been abundantly clear that opinions — especially those expressed in informal, conversational, or even vulgar language — do not constitute defamation. See:

WIC Radio Ltd. v. Simpson, 2008 SCC 40 — the Court explicitly protected “strongly worded or exaggerated opinion” under the fair comment defense;

Grant v. Torstar Corp., 2009 SCC 61 — establishing that only false factual claims that cause reputational harm may be actionable as defamation.

Calling someone an “asshole” or a “dick” may offend you personally, but legally it’s clearly opinion, not defamation. No reasonable person would interpret those words as factual allegations.

You also appear to believe I have control over Facebook’s review system. I do not. Facebook does not allow users to edit or remove reviews once posted. If you object to the content, your only option is to report it through Facebook’s platform, and they will determine whether it violates their terms of service — not you.

Further, your reference to RSO 1990 c. D.7 is baffling — that statute does not exist. If you're attempting to bluff your way through legal threats using fake laws and ChatGPT-generated nonsense, I suggest you reconsider. ChatGPT is not a lawyer, and poorly drafted, inaccurate pseudo-legal threats only reflect poorly on you. If you're concerned about your business reputation, perhaps your time would be better spent improving your customer service rather than trying to intimidate people with baseless legal posturing.

To be clear:

I will not be removing the review;

I am under no legal obligation to comply with your demands;

Any further threats of “legal action” over clearly protected speech will be treated as harassment and documented accordingly.

I will not respond to any further correspondence unless initiated by a licensed legal professional acting on your behalf — and even then, your claim would be summarily dismissed.

Consider this the end of the matter.

Sincerely, OP.

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I hope that shuts him up :/