**Former NFL Cheerleader Appeals Restraining Order in Legal Battle with Mario Lopez**
*Published Oct. 6, 2025, 3:54 p.m. ET*
The former NFL cheerleader, Desiree Townsend, who had her defamation lawsuit against actor Mario Lopez dismissed by a judge, has now officially appealed a restraining order granted against her by the former *Saved By the Bell* star, RadarOnline.com can exclusively reveal.
Despite the dismissal of her claims, Townsend continues to press her case against the 51-year-old actor. A judge previously granted Lopez’s request to strike all of her defamation allegations. However, Townsend is undeterred.
“It’s on to the appellate courts now,” she told Radar exclusively. “This is where real change happens and where case law is shaped.”
Known in the media as the “Flu Shot Cheerleader,” Townsend confronted Lopez outside his home after he shared an Instagram post critical of her mental health. Currently, she is challenging the restraining order that forces her to keep at least 100 yards away from Lopez and his family.
“Right now, my focus is on appealing the restraining order decision,” Townsend said. “One of the grounds for the appeal is that the anti-SLAPP motion was never properly heard, and Mario’s team presented no opposition evidence.”
Last week, she took formal action by filing an “Appeal from an order granting a civil harassment restraining order.”
### Townsend Calls Out Lopez’s Legal Team
After notifying Lopez and his attorneys about the appeal, Townsend revealed their response seemed to mock her efforts. Daniel Tapetillo, an attorney from the well-known law firm Geragos & Geragos, reportedly replied with just a “laughing face” emoji.
Townsend believes this terse message only strengthens her position. “If anything, that response underscores my position that the restraining order was never about genuine safety concerns or legal merit, but rather a public relations tactic,” she said.
“After all, if the order had substantive weight, it’s hard to imagine anyone treating an appeal with such levity.”
### The Lawsuit and Allegations
Townsend initially sued Lopez, his employer NBC, *Inside Edition*, and even the actor’s own legal team, demanding $150 million in damages. She claimed her name and reputation were severely tarnished after Lopez shared an old *Inside Edition* story about her on Instagram. He captioned the post: “There’s gotta be some kind of award for this performance,” adding hashtags #MethodActor and #OscarWorthy.
Lopez maintained that his Instagram post was protected by free speech. His team won an anti-SLAPP motion, which allows for the speedy dismissal of lawsuits filed against public figures on First Amendment grounds.
### Mario Lopez Finally Speaks Out
After months of silence on the matter, Lopez addressed the lawsuit during his radio show, calling the entire situation “unusual.”
“It was an absolutely ridiculous lawsuit, but nonetheless, you kind of have to deal with it,” he said on *On with Mario Lopez*. He praised his defense team for their work and celebrated his victory, making no mention of Townsend by name.
“A judge has officially thrown it out and rewarded me victory,” Lopez declared. “And now this person is responsible for my legal fees and hopefully out of our lives forever.”
His co-host and wife, Courtney Lopez, also weighed in, admitting, “It was stressful because it was just so unnecessary that we were even dealing with something like this.”
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*Stay tuned for updates on this ongoing legal battle.*
https://radaronline.com/p/mario-lopez-flu-shot-cheerleader-appeal-restraining-order-defamation-charges-dismissed/