https://marco.org/2008/11/20/the-defense-will-rest-on-two-theories-first-as
The defense will rest on two theories. First, as truth is an absolute defense to libel, the defense will attempt to show that Mr. Minelli is, in fact, a douchebag. Secondly, the defense will show that the author is not the proximate cause of Mr. Minelli’s damages. The “friends, acquaintances, coworkers, employees, and strangers” are, more likely than not, calling Mr. Minelli a douchebag because of his uncanny resemblance to a douchebag.