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| Baby from famous image on Nirvana’s hit album ‘Nevermind’ SUES band for profiting from ‘sex trafficking venture’ & child porn | Baby from famous image on Nirvana’s hit album ‘Nevermind’ SUES band for profiting from ‘sex trafficking venture’ & child porn |
| (2 months later) | |
| The man who was pictured naked as a baby on the cover of Nirvana’s iconic ‘Nevermind’ album is suing the late Kurt Cobain’s estate, the surviving band members and others – alleging child pornography and sexual exploitation. | The man who was pictured naked as a baby on the cover of Nirvana’s iconic ‘Nevermind’ album is suing the late Kurt Cobain’s estate, the surviving band members and others – alleging child pornography and sexual exploitation. |
| In a lawsuit filed in Los Angeles on Tuesday, Spencer Elden, 30, claims his parents had not signed a release authorizing the grunge-rock group to use the famous photograph – in which a four-month-old infant was pictured reaching for a dollar bill attached to a fishing hook in a swimming pool. | In a lawsuit filed in Los Angeles on Tuesday, Spencer Elden, 30, claims his parents had not signed a release authorizing the grunge-rock group to use the famous photograph – in which a four-month-old infant was pictured reaching for a dollar bill attached to a fishing hook in a swimming pool. |
| Elden is seeking $150,000 from each of the suit’s 15 listed defendants – including photographer Kirk Weddle, musician and Cobain estate executor Courtney Love, various record companies, art directors – for unspecified damages to be determined at a trial. | Elden is seeking $150,000 from each of the suit’s 15 listed defendants – including photographer Kirk Weddle, musician and Cobain estate executor Courtney Love, various record companies, art directors – for unspecified damages to be determined at a trial. |
| The suit claimed Elden’s “identity and legal name are forever tied” to the “commercial sexual exploitation he experienced as a minor,” which has been distributed worldwide since the 1991 album’s commercial success. As a result, he apparently “suffered and will continue to suffer lifelong damages.” | The suit claimed Elden’s “identity and legal name are forever tied” to the “commercial sexual exploitation he experienced as a minor,” which has been distributed worldwide since the 1991 album’s commercial success. As a result, he apparently “suffered and will continue to suffer lifelong damages.” |
| According to the lawsuit, the photo was supposedly chosen by Cobain and is meant to suggest a “sex worker grabbing for a dollar bill.” The filing described the photo as a “sex trafficking venture” in which Elden “was forced to engage in commercial sexual acts while under the age of 18 years old.” | According to the lawsuit, the photo was supposedly chosen by Cobain and is meant to suggest a “sex worker grabbing for a dollar bill.” The filing described the photo as a “sex trafficking venture” in which Elden “was forced to engage in commercial sexual acts while under the age of 18 years old.” |
| The suit alleged that after receiving “pushback” in relation to the use of the photo, Cobain agreed to partially censor the image “with a sticker strategically placed over Spencer’s genitals” that would include the text “If you’re offended by this, you must be a closet pedophile” on it. | The suit alleged that after receiving “pushback” in relation to the use of the photo, Cobain agreed to partially censor the image “with a sticker strategically placed over Spencer’s genitals” that would include the text “If you’re offended by this, you must be a closet pedophile” on it. |
| According to the suit, the defendants used “child pornography depicting Spencer” as an “essential element of a record promotion scheme” commonly used in the music industry to get attention. In this alleged scheme, “album covers posed children in a sexually provocative manner to gain notoriety, drive sales, and garner media attention, and critical reviews.” | According to the suit, the defendants used “child pornography depicting Spencer” as an “essential element of a record promotion scheme” commonly used in the music industry to get attention. In this alleged scheme, “album covers posed children in a sexually provocative manner to gain notoriety, drive sales, and garner media attention, and critical reviews.” |
| It also claims that – despite having “knowingly produced, possessed, and advertised commercial child pornography” depicting Elden and having “knowingly received value in exchange for doing so” – the defendants “failed to take reasonable steps to protect Spencer and prevent his widespread sexual exploitation and image trafficking.” | It also claims that – despite having “knowingly produced, possessed, and advertised commercial child pornography” depicting Elden and having “knowingly received value in exchange for doing so” – the defendants “failed to take reasonable steps to protect Spencer and prevent his widespread sexual exploitation and image trafficking.” |
| Although Elden has recreated the photo a number of times over the years, he has expressed frustration at not being compensated for his likeness. In a 2016 profile by Time magazine, Elden said he had tried to take legal action against the record label, Geffen Records, before but was “unsuccessful.” | Although Elden has recreated the photo a number of times over the years, he has expressed frustration at not being compensated for his likeness. In a 2016 profile by Time magazine, Elden said he had tried to take legal action against the record label, Geffen Records, before but was “unsuccessful.” |
| Since its release, ‘Nevermind’ has sold more than 30 million copies worldwide. After it was certified platinum, Geffen Records apparently sent Elden a platinum plaque and a teddy bear as thanks. | Since its release, ‘Nevermind’ has sold more than 30 million copies worldwide. After it was certified platinum, Geffen Records apparently sent Elden a platinum plaque and a teddy bear as thanks. |
| “It’s hard not to get upset when you hear how much money was involved,” Elden told Time, adding, “It’s a trip. Everyone involved in the album has tons and tons of money. I feel like I’m the last little bit of grunge rock. I’m living in my mom’s house and driving a Honda Civic.” | “It’s hard not to get upset when you hear how much money was involved,” Elden told Time, adding, “It’s a trip. Everyone involved in the album has tons and tons of money. I feel like I’m the last little bit of grunge rock. I’m living in my mom’s house and driving a Honda Civic.” |
| If you like this story, share it with a friend! | If you like this story, share it with a friend! |