A Tucson woman is taking the City of Tempe to federal court, claiming that a GIF from the TV show “Game of Thrones” she posted as political commentary led to an unconstitutional arrest, thereby costing her a six-figure job and damaging her reputation.
In a lawsuit filed against the city, Kathleen Tierney alleges Tempe violated her constitutional rights when Tempe police officers and U.S. Marshals arrested her at her Tucson home on Sept. 24, 2025.
The GIF depicted the Game of Thrones character Cersei, overlooking an explosion in the fictional city of King’s Landing. City leaders treated it as an imminent threat.
The comment, posted Aug. 28, 2025, prompted the evacuation of an estimated 75 people from the city council chambers for a building sweep, and that night’s proceedings were canceled. Tempe police and U.S. Marshals arrested Tierney about a month later…