Ca - Reference Purposefully Lying Causing Me To Have A Hard Time Finding A New Job

To keep it pretty vague.. is recently I was laid off from my job :(

When I was laid off, the layoffs were company-wide, and it was explained to me that I was laid off due to budget: my pay was the highest for my position and because of that, I was selected.-- I have this in writing.

I understood this, business is business, whatever, so I look for a new job.

... and then I turn on the tv to see someone I worked with talking in a very very public format about how the people he laid off were bottom performers who essentially sucked at their jobs. (Not exact words).

Now, because he said this, and he said this EXTREMELY PUBLIC on the level that most all of the industry I work in is aware of this statement... now potential employers aren't trusting me becuase they perceive me as the statement claimed.... where reality is the opposite, that's why I was paid so much.

I am wondering if I should pursue this and start looking at legal options because that's untrue, and directly impacts me financially and I am now afraid I've been inadvertently black balled? Is this actionable?

thanks.