more latitude in such a situation than if the statements were not provoked." Sack at § 9.2.1; Reynolds v. Pegler 223 F.2d 429, 433 (2d Cir. 1955); Konikoff v. Prudential Ins. Co. of Am. 1999 WL 688460, at *12 (S.D.N.Y. Sept. 1, 1999), aff'd 1234 F.3d 92 (2d Cir. 2000). Although defendants are not requ