Is it libelous?

1. “Up until the day he died, he was a brilliant writer. But the drugs made him a thief, a pimp and a liar,” said friend Karen Smith, who was with Johnson at the time of his death.


2. “Megan Fox is a man!” Headline on Weekly World News Web site


3. “In my opinion, Kevin is a murdering rapist.”

1. Because this is a direct quote, we can't change the nature of what Karen said. However, the second part of this quote could be considered libel, even if he is deceased, depending on whether or not he has an estate.

2. This is considered libel if it is not true. Megan Fox clearly identifies herself with the gender of a female, and therefore such claims need to be examined and clarified to not be libelous.

3. Who said this? someone's opinion is not fact, and should not be printed in this context, because even if it is just someone's opinion, it can be read as fact and considered libelous.