Characters for Hire ℠ Defamation Lawsuit | Company Statement
Litigation Notice: On December 5, 2025, the owner of Characters for Hire ℠ filed a defamation lawsuit in Connecticut Superior Court (Docket #FBT-CV25-5059385-S) against special effects makeup artist Beatrice T. Sniper. The allegations in the lawsuit are disputed, and no final judgment has been entered unless reflected by the court record.
Characters for Hire ℠ Statement Regarding Defamation Lawsuit and False Online Accusations
Characters for Hire ℠ has been in business for nearly two decades, providing professional event entertainment services for private clients, corporations, schools, universities, libraries, museums, government agencies, and organizations throughout the United States and internationally.
The company has worked with thousands of customers and performers over the years. Characters for Hire ℠ is a legitimate event entertainment business, and according to company records, the company has maintained professional relationships with major clients, public institutions, and government-related customers.
This page is intended to address false and misleading online accusations that have been made about Characters for Hire ℠ and its owner, and to explain why the owner filed a defamation lawsuit.
Why the Lawsuit Was Filed
The defamation lawsuit was filed because a former contractor allegedly engaged in a long-running online campaign accusing Characters for Hire ℠ and its owner of being a “scam,” “scammer,” “fraud,” “criminal,” “scheme,” and similar terms.
Characters for Hire ℠ strongly denies those accusations.
The owner of Characters for Hire ℠ has not been charged with or convicted of fraud, theft, or any criminal activity related to the company. The company is not a scam, not a fraudulent operation, not a criminal enterprise, and not a scheme to take money from performers, customers, or the public.
The lawsuit was filed because these accusations are false, damaging, and harmful to the reputation of the company, its owner, and the company’s ability to conduct business.
Background of the Dispute
The dispute began with a former contractor who had worked with Characters for Hire ℠ for approximately three years without major issues. During the COVID-19 lockdown period in 2020, a payment-related dispute arose between the contractor and Characters for Hire ℠.
Rather than allow the dispute to remain a private contractual disagreement, the contractor allegedly began posting, reposting, compiling, and spreading negative accusations about the company and its owner online.
According to the lawsuit and evidence gathered by the company, the contractor repeatedly used inflammatory language suggesting that Characters for Hire ℠ and its owner were involved in fraud, scams, criminal conduct, and dishonest business practices. Characters for Hire ℠ denies those claims.
False Claims About Reviews and Payments
Characters for Hire ℠ also denies accusations that the company forces people to write positive reviews in order to be paid.
Characters for Hire ℠ denies accusations that the company pays to remove negative reviews.
Characters for Hire ℠ denies accusations that it fabricates positive customer feedback or manipulates online reviews.
The company believes these claims were made to damage its reputation, interfere with business relationships, and create a false public impression that Characters for Hire ℠ is not a legitimate business.
The Use of Redacted Screenshots and Anonymous Claims
A major issue in the lawsuit involves the alleged use of redacted screenshots, anonymous conversations, reposted complaints, and online statements from unidentified individuals.
According to the evidence collected by Characters for Hire ℠, the defendant allegedly contacted people through social media to discuss their experiences with the company. Some of those individuals appear to have been former contractors or performers who were no longer working with the company, including individuals who, according to company records, may have been removed for failing to fulfill job requirements or for other performance-related issues.
The company alleges that the defendant compiled these conversations and reposted redacted screenshots online, including through a Facebook page focused on Characters for Hire ℠. Many of these screenshots allegedly contained no visible date, no time, no URL, no metadata, and no reliable way for the company to confirm whether the conversations were genuine, complete, edited, taken out of context, or manufactured.
Characters for Hire ℠ believes that anonymous, redacted, unverifiable screenshots should not be used to falsely brand a business as a scam, fraud, criminal operation, or scheme.
Reposting Old or Resolved Complaints
The lawsuit also concerns the repeated reposting of old reviews, prior customer complaints, Better Business Bureau materials, Google reviews, Trustpilot reviews, and other online content.
Characters for Hire ℠ contends that many of these issues were resolved, outdated, repeated, or reposted in a way that made it appear as though there were hundreds of new or unresolved complaints. The company alleges that certain content was reposted repeatedly every 30 to 60 days so that old material would appear fresh to social media users and search engines.
Characters for Hire ℠ believes this created a misleading public impression and amplified reputational damage far beyond the underlying dispute.
Impact on Characters for Hire ℠
The alleged online campaign has caused real harm.
Characters for Hire ℠ contends that performers, contractors, and potential business contacts have refused to work with the company after seeing online accusations calling the business a scam, fraud, criminal enterprise, or dishonest operation.
The company also contends that the repeated accusations damaged search results, social media reputation, business relationships, customer trust, and the owner’s personal safety and peace of mind.
According to the owner, the campaign extended beyond normal online criticism. The owner alleges that the defendant contacted or attempted to involve government authorities, community members, neighbors, and others connected to the owner’s personal life. The owner states that the situation caused him to install security cameras and take additional precautions for his family and property.
Characters for Hire ℠ views this conduct as harassment, reputation damage, and business interference.
Characters for Hire ℠ Denies the Accusations
Characters for Hire ℠ specifically denies that it is:
- a scam;
- a scammer;
- a fraud;
- a criminal operation;
- a scheme;
- a company that forces positive reviews;
- a company that pays to remove bad reviews;
- a company that fabricates customer feedback;
- a company that intentionally avoids paying legitimate performers;
- a company engaged in criminal or fraudulent activity.
Characters for Hire ℠ acknowledges that, like many businesses operating for many years, it has had occasional disputes, complaints, and disagreements. However, a dispute or complaint does not make a business a scam, fraud, criminal enterprise, or scheme.
The company has served thousands of customers and continues to operate as a legitimate event entertainment provider.
Evidence Collected by Characters for Hire ℠
The owner of Characters for Hire ℠ has collected extensive evidence for court review. The company has also gathered and analyzed online posts, screenshots, reposts, comments, social media activity, and other digital materials.
According to the owner, more than 400 redacted reposts and hundreds of pieces of related evidence have been preserved for the lawsuit.
Characters for Hire ℠ intends to present evidence in court showing that the defendant’s statements were false, misleading, defamatory, and harmful.
The Purpose of the Lawsuit
The lawsuit was not filed to silence legitimate customer feedback or truthful personal opinions.
The lawsuit was filed to stop false factual accusations that Characters for Hire ℠ and its owner are criminals, scammers, fraudsters, or part of a fraudulent scheme.
There is an important difference between a person saying they had a negative experience and a person publicly accusing a business owner of fraud, criminal conduct, or operating a scam without evidence.
Characters for Hire ℠ respects lawful speech and truthful reviews. However, the company will defend itself against false statements of fact that harm the business, mislead the public, and damage the owner’s personal and professional reputation.
Characters for Hire ℠ Remains in Business
Characters for Hire ℠ remains committed to providing professional event entertainment services. The company has served private events, corporate events, public institutions, educational organizations, government-related customers, libraries, museums, universities, schools, and clients across multiple regions.
The company’s position is simple:
Characters for Hire ℠ is a legitimate business.
Characters for Hire ℠ is not a scam.
Characters for Hire ℠ is not a fraud.
Characters for Hire ℠ is not a criminal enterprise.
Characters for Hire ℠ will continue defending its name, its owner, its employees, its contractors, and its reputation.
Statement From the Owner of Characters for Hire ℠ – “For years, Characters for Hire ℠ has worked hard to provide entertainment services to customers across the United States and beyond. The online accusations calling my company a scam, fraud, criminal operation, and scheme are false. These statements have harmed my business, my reputation, and my family. I filed this lawsuit because I believe the truth matters, and because no business owner should have to live under a long-term campaign of false accusations designed to damage their livelihood.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Characters for Hire ℠ a scam?
No. Characters for Hire ℠ is a legitimate event entertainment company that has operated for nearly two decades. The company denies accusations that it is a scam, fraud, criminal operation, or scheme.
Why did the owner of Characters for Hire ℠ file a lawsuit?
The lawsuit was filed after years of alleged false online accusations by a former contractor. The owner claims the defendant repeatedly called the company and its owner scammers, criminals, fraudsters, and similar terms, causing reputational and business harm.
Was the owner of Characters for Hire ℠ ever charged with fraud or criminal conduct?
No. According to the company, the owner has never been charged with or convicted of fraud or criminal activity related to Characters for Hire ℠.
Does Characters for Hire ℠ force people to write positive reviews?
No. Characters for Hire ℠ denies allegations that it forces people to write positive reviews in order to get paid.
Does Characters for Hire ℠ pay to remove bad reviews?
No. Characters for Hire ℠ denies allegations that it pays to remove negative reviews.
What is the lawsuit about?
The lawsuit concerns alleged defamatory statements, online posts, redacted screenshots, reposted accusations, and claims that Characters for Hire ℠ and its owner were involved in scams, fraud, criminal conduct, or dishonest business practices.
Is Characters for Hire ℠ trying to stop all criticism?
No. The company is not trying to stop lawful criticism or truthful reviews. The lawsuit concerns allegedly false factual accusations that the company and its owner committed fraud, criminal acts, scams, or schemes.
What does Characters for Hire ℠ want from the lawsuit?
Characters for Hire ℠ seeks to protect its reputation, stop the spread of false accusations, prevent further business interference, and obtain appropriate relief through the court process.
Legal Notice – This page is a public statement by Characters for Hire ℠ regarding pending litigation and disputed allegations. The defendant denies wrongdoing. No final court determination has been made unless and until reflected in a court order or judgment. Characters for Hire ℠ reserves all rights, claims, defenses, and remedies.