Lead
On February 26, 2026, model and influencer Celina Powell, through attorney Rebecca R. Bordoli, sent a cease-and-desist to fellow creator Deshae Frost after he accused her on a January 26 livestream of sexually assaulting him and transmitting herpes. The letter — obtained by press outlets — demands that Frost stop repeating the allegations, publicly retract them and issue apologies within 10 days or face a defamation lawsuit in Florida. Powell’s legal team says the statements are false and are already harming her business relationships. If Frost does not comply, the correspondence signals an imminent civil claim for libel and reputational damages.
Key takeaways
- Cease-and-desist issued on February 26, 2026 by attorney Rebecca R. Bordoli on behalf of Celina Powell; the letter was sent Thursday and has been shared with the press.
- The contested remarks were made during a January 26, 2026 livestream, when Deshae Frost allegedly claimed Powell sexually assaulted him and infected him with herpes.
- Powell’s legal team frames the statements as defamation per se under Florida law, noting that false accusations of a crime or an infectious disease can give rise to presumed damages.
- The letter requests a public retraction and apology on each platform where the claims were posted within 10 days, warning of a lawsuit if Frost refuses.
- Powell’s representatives say the allegations are spreading online and already affecting her professional relationships and business prospects within the influencer ecosystem.
- As of publication, Frost has not issued a public response; failure to retract would likely move the dispute from social media into civil court.
Background
Online disputes among influencers often escalate rapidly because livestreams and clips circulate across platforms within hours. When allegations concern sexual misconduct or sexually transmitted infections, the reputational stakes grow, since audiences and business partners can react quickly and decisively.
In Florida and many U.S. jurisdictions, claims that falsely allege criminal conduct or the presence of an infectious disease can constitute defamation per se, meaning a plaintiff may recover damages without proving specific economic loss. That legal context shapes how plaintiffs and their counsel respond to viral accusations.
Both Powell and Frost are active on social media and each has a following that amplifies content. For public figures in that ecosystem, swift legal notices are a common first step to force retractions and preserve commercial relationships while preparing for potential litigation.
Main event
According to the cease-and-desist letter obtained by media outlets, Frost made the contested assertions on a January 26 livestream, telling viewers that Powell sexually assaulted him and transmitted herpes. Powell’s attorney characterizes the allegations as baseless and damaging to her reputation and work.
The letter, drafted by Rebecca R. Bordoli, demands that Frost stop broadcasting or reposting the statements, remove existing posts, and issue a public apology and retraction across each platform where the claims appeared within 10 days. It also puts Frost on notice that Powell intends to pursue civil remedies if he fails to comply.
Powell’s camp explicitly argues the statements are actionable under Florida law as defamation per se, highlighting how courts treat false claims of criminality and infectious disease. The correspondence asserts that the accusations are spreading within industry circles and harming Powell’s ability to secure deals and maintain professional relationships.
At the time this article was published, Frost had not issued a public reply. Absent a retraction, the matter is poised to move into formal litigation, which would open discovery and could require proof or disproof of the underlying allegations.
Analysis & implications
Legally, the central issues will be whether Frost can substantiate the claims he made and whether those claims were presented as fact rather than opinion. In a defamation action, truth is an absolute defense: if Frost can prove the substance of his statements, Powell’s claim would fail. Conversely, if Powell can show the statements were false and caused reputational and economic harm, she may be entitled to damages, especially under a defamation-per-se theory that presumes harm.
Because the accusations involve sexual assault and an STD, courtroom disputes could implicate privacy and medical evidence. Courts balance the public’s interest in disclosure against privacy protections; any medical or intimate details introduced in litigation may be subject to strict evidentiary rules and protective orders.
From a commercial perspective, even unproven allegations can have immediate consequences in the influencer economy: sponsors, talent agencies and platforms often react faster than courts by pausing deals or removing content to limit reputational exposure. That creates an incentive for rapid legal responses such as cease-and-desist letters aimed at halting further dissemination.
The procedural path from a cease-and-desist to a filed lawsuit typically follows a predictable timeline: a demand period (here, 10 days), potential negotiations or retraction, and then, if unresolved, a complaint filed in the appropriate state court. Discovery would likely explore the livestream record, messages between the parties, and any relevant medical documentation — processes that can be prolonged and public.
Comparison & data
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| January 26, 2026 | Alleged statements made by Deshae Frost during a livestream |
| February 26, 2026 | Cease-and-desist letter sent by Rebecca R. Bordoli on behalf of Celina Powell |
The two-date timeline above frames the immediate dispute: the allegedly defamatory statements and the legal response. That short window — one month between allegation and letter — is typical in fast-moving influencer disputes where reputational harm is claimed to be ongoing and compounding.
Reactions & quotes
“These statements are unfounded and defamatory; they must stop immediately,”
Rebecca R. Bordoli, Attorney for Celina Powell (cease-and-desist)
Media reporting on the letter notes that Powell’s team says the accusations are damaging her business ties and spreading quickly across platforms.
TMZ (entertainment news report)
As of publication, Frost had not posted a public response to the legal notice, leaving the next steps uncertain.
Public record / social channels (no public reply)
Unconfirmed
- Whether Deshae Frost can substantiate the sexual-assault or herpes claims remains unproven and has not been verified in public records.
- No medical documentation or independent confirmation of an STD transmission has been presented publicly as of publication.
- It is not yet confirmed whether Frost will retract his statements, negotiate a resolution, or contest the cease-and-desist in court.
- There is no public record yet of a filed lawsuit; Powell’s letter indicates intent but does not constitute civil filing.
Bottom line
This dispute illustrates how quickly allegations made on livestream can migrate into legal battles when they concern criminal conduct or infectious disease. The February 26 cease-and-desist sets a firm 10-day timeline that will determine whether the matter de-escalates via retraction or escalates to litigation.
Observers should watch for any public retraction from Frost, the filing of a complaint in Florida courts, or platform actions that might remove or label the contested content. If the case proceeds, discovery could produce evidence that clarifies the facts — but until then, the principal questions remain unresolved and subject to verification in court.