Post by Russg on Aug 25, 2021 9:17:10 GMT
Nirvana is sued for child pornography by man, 30, for $2.5 million after he appeared as a naked baby on their classic second album Nevermind
Nirvana and the estate of Kurt Cobain are being sued by Spencer Elden, a man, 30, who was the baby seen on the group's Nevermind album cover in 1991.
In court documents reviewed by CBSLA, filed in Los Angeles federal court, Elden that band members, record companies and creative personnel had 'trafficked' his image for profit, and he has 'continued to suffer lifelong damages as a result.'
Elden, a Los Angeles native, said that his 'identity and legal name are forever tied to the commercial sexual exploitation he experienced as a minor which has been distributed and sold worldwide from the time he was a baby to the present day.'
Elden said that 'defendants failed to take reasonable steps to protect [him] and prevent his widespread sexual exploitation and image trafficking.'
In the suit, Elden said his parents never gave their release in writing for the photos, and were not paid, despite 2008 reports that photographer Kirk Weddle paid Elden's father Rich $200 for 15 seconds of work to appear in the snap, according to NPR.
Elden's legal team said in the suit that 'to ensure the album cover would trigger a visceral sexual response from the viewer, (photographer Kirk) Weddle activated Spencer’s "gag reflex" before throwing him underwater in poses highlighting and emphasizing Spencer’s exposed genitals.'
They added that 'as an essential element of a record promotion scheme commonly utilized in the music industry to get attention, wherein album covers posed children in a sexually provocative manner to gain notoriety, drive sales, and garner media attention, and critical reviews.'
www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-9924579/Nirvana-estate-Kurt-Cobain-sued-exploitation-claims-1991-Nevermind-album-cover.html#comments-9924579
Nirvana and the estate of Kurt Cobain are being sued by Spencer Elden, a man, 30, who was the baby seen on the group's Nevermind album cover in 1991.
In court documents reviewed by CBSLA, filed in Los Angeles federal court, Elden that band members, record companies and creative personnel had 'trafficked' his image for profit, and he has 'continued to suffer lifelong damages as a result.'
Elden, a Los Angeles native, said that his 'identity and legal name are forever tied to the commercial sexual exploitation he experienced as a minor which has been distributed and sold worldwide from the time he was a baby to the present day.'
Elden said that 'defendants failed to take reasonable steps to protect [him] and prevent his widespread sexual exploitation and image trafficking.'
In the suit, Elden said his parents never gave their release in writing for the photos, and were not paid, despite 2008 reports that photographer Kirk Weddle paid Elden's father Rich $200 for 15 seconds of work to appear in the snap, according to NPR.
Elden's legal team said in the suit that 'to ensure the album cover would trigger a visceral sexual response from the viewer, (photographer Kirk) Weddle activated Spencer’s "gag reflex" before throwing him underwater in poses highlighting and emphasizing Spencer’s exposed genitals.'
They added that 'as an essential element of a record promotion scheme commonly utilized in the music industry to get attention, wherein album covers posed children in a sexually provocative manner to gain notoriety, drive sales, and garner media attention, and critical reviews.'
www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-9924579/Nirvana-estate-Kurt-Cobain-sued-exploitation-claims-1991-Nevermind-album-cover.html#comments-9924579