Controversies
In 2003, Max posted on his website an account of his relationship with Katy Johnson, who was Miss Vermont in 1999. Johnson filed a lawsuit against Max claiming, among other things, an invasion of her privacy. In response to the lawsuit, a Florida state court judge issued an order for Max not to write about Johnson; to not use Johnson's first, full, or last name; not to use the phrase "Miss Vermont" on his website; and not to disclose any "information" or "stories" about Johnson. Legal experts called the decision "kooky" and "clearly a suppression of free speech." The ACLU intervened, claiming a breach of Max's First Amendment rights, which led to Johnson's voluntary dismissal, and Max's story was once again posted on his website. An expanded version of the story was later published in Hilarity Ensues.
In January 2006, Max posted a thread on his message board satirizing Anthony DiMeo, a young Philadelphia socialite, for throwing a New Year's Eve party that did not turn out well. The number of partygoers that actually appeared greatly exceeded expectations, which resulted in the alcohol and food available for guests running out well before midnight. The over 700 young partygoers got unruly, two pieces of art were stolen, and the city police were called to disperse the crowd. DiMeo subsequently sued Max under the Violence Against Women Act contesting that some of the comments on Max's message board were libelous and represented criminal behavior. The lawsuit was subsequently dismissed under the Communications Decency Act, with U.S. District Judge Stewart Dalzell noting that although Max could be a "poster child for the vulgarity," the law must protect "the coarse conversation that, it appears, never ends on TuckerMax.com."
In May 2009, Max held a speaking engagement which was picketed by a feminist group at The Ohio State University, who claimed that his writing "promoted a culture of rape." In August 2009, the North Carolina State University Women's Center held a silent protest of I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell. The advertisements themselves were also vandalized in multiple cities.
For three years starting in 2005, Max was harassed by Justin Massler. Massler sent him repeated "Unabomber type" emails, and showed up uninvited to a 2006 party hosted by Max while dressed up as a superhero. The altercations made national news after Massler was charged with stalking Ivanka Trump in 2010.
In April 2012, Tucker Max offered $500,000 to Planned Parenthood if they named an abortion clinic after him. Planned Parenthood would not accept the money.
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