John Krasinski’s brother settles defamation suit against 8 women

“The Office” actor and Newton-native John Krasinkski’s brother has dropped his defamation suit after a reported settlement, according to court records. 

Paul Krasinski and the Farmhouse Retreat, his Plymouth-based charity, filed a lawsuit in May against Danielle Cyr-DeFrias, a real estate agent he dated in 2023, public relations executive Jackie Bruno, whom he dated earlier this year, and six other women identified as Jane Does, according to The Boston Globe. 

“In the spirit of moving forward, we have mutually decided to resolve the matter quietly and confidentially,” Bruno and Cyr-DeFrias said in a joint statement Monday, according to the paper.

Krasinski brought the defamation suit, alleging the women posted fake accusations against him on social media, which negatively affected his reputation and caused Plymouth-area schools to end their relationship with his charity. 

Bruno and Cyr-DeFrias were accused by Krasinski of having a “much broader civil conspiracy” with the six other, unnamed women who had the “singular goal of humiliating, defaming and destroying Paul Krasinski and his charitable endeavor, The Farmhouse,” according to court documents. He alleged that the women became hostile towards him after their romantic relationships ended. 

After the suit was filed, Cyr-DeFrias and Bruno said they stood by their previous statements about Krasinski. 

Cyr-DeFrias referred a reporter to a Facebook post she made on April 20, 2024, following their romantic relationship, wherein she said she concluded Krasinski was “untrustworthy” despite knowing him her whole life, according to The Boston Globe. 

“I think his allegations speak for themselves,” Bruno said, according to the paper. “Why would one man need to sue eight women? With six of them not being named? I’m saddened he stooped to this level, but I am not afraid. I may be silenced, but I believe this lawsuit will further expose the truth.”

The Plymouth Independent reported on Krasinski’s nonprofit receiving two cease-and-desist orders from the town and the Fire Department due to lack of permits for using his house for public or educational use, putting up or altering buildings without a permit for education use, and fire code safety violations of those facilities in March.

Bruno was quoted in the piece, saying, “Paul is using the schools, the town, and people’s generosity and hope for opportunity to his advantage. I have since learned he cannot be trusted.”