Forum menu
BBC News - Nirvana sued by the baby from Nevermind's album cover
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-58327844
I'm pretty sure I've seen evidence of this guy living off this story on various gossip sites. He could dine out on it for the rest of his life.
I’m pretty sure I’ve seen evidence of this guy living off this story on various gossip sites. He could dine out on it for the rest of his life.
The guy who has recreated the cover on several occasions…. looks like he’s hoping to dine out on it for the rest of his life, or until the $1.5m is spent
Claiming it's sexual exploitation is a bit ridiculous. Probably fair enough for him to get some cash for such an iconic image though. He did already get a dream job for five years out of it as a minimum, so....
Saw this earlier.
So he is arguing he didn't give consent, which would be difficult as he was four months old at the time and sexual exploitation which seems tenuous at best, a nude image doesn't automatically have to sexual / pornographic in nature.
I think arguing he wasn't paid for the original image might be justified but the other stuff is pretty ridiculous. If he was harmed by the image then why did he consent to re-enacting it at various anniversary of the album's release.
I thought the sexual component was a bit much considering how much he has done recreating yet.
I can accept he hasn't made much money or of it but to claim all that is dumb and he seems to have undermined some of his claim by his own previous actions anyway
he was paid though - at least his parents were. Only $200 apparently but then the band weren't mega-famous at the time. Do all subjects of iconic art deserve to be bankrolled for the rest of their lives? Sounds like he's already (willingly) done alright out of it.I think arguing he wasn’t paid for the original image might be justified
Sounds like someone is running out of money
Given that Kurt's estate alone is worth a reported $450M. Surely you'd just reach down the sofa, have a rummage, settle it?
Never that easy though, is it?
I’m pretty sure I’ve seen evidence of this guy living off this story on various gossip sites.
And, according to the report I read had the album cover tattooed on his chest. I'd hope that in the UK he'd get laughed out of court and given a lovely large legal bill from the defence, but as it's the USA, he'll probably win.
If anyone finds that image sexual then it's not the image which is the problem.
I was expecting this to be about Nirvana Cycles in Westcott - maybe someone complaining that they'd been 'dropped' on one of their group rides ?
If anyone finds that image sexual then it’s not the image which is the problem.
That reminds me of when our son was born and spent a while in NICU. I wanted a photo of his first bath but the matron put her hand over his bits for "privacy" reasons.
Still got the the picture, censored and non censored versions.
Cougar
If anyone finds that image sexual then it’s not the image which is the problem
Yeah, notice the BBC crop the image just in case
Saw it, shook my head and can't understand why it is even being considered...nothing to contend as from what I understand, it was all done and dusted and he is now just trying to cash in when it has already paid out.
Man's a total fanny and is belittling child sexual exploitation.
And, according to the report I read had the album cover tattooed on his chest. I’d hope that in the UK he’d get laughed out of court and given a lovely large legal bill from the defence, but as it’s the USA, he’ll probably win.
Aye. This guy is only pursuing this avenue now because he's in the US and believes he has a chance. He needs to grow up and move on.
Good luck to him I say, so what? At least he's sueing people who can afford it.
n.b how do you spell sueing? 😂
Sad thing is, whatever the outcome someone will be making money out of this, if ever there was a case for the judge to hold up a placard saying "jog on"
Man’s a total fanny and is belittling child sexual exploitation.
Very much this. Utter fud.
Premier Icon
jekkyl
Full MemberGood luck to him I say, so what?
It opens the door for every person who has ever had their image on an album cover to come looking for more cash I’d imagine. Especially when it’s a small bands breakthrough album
Lucky for the Van Halen estate that the cover of 1984 was a painting! 🙂
Which album cover will be next? Spinal Tap's Smell the Glove?
Guardian article reports
The lawsuit claims the image is “sexually graphic”, and says it makes Elden resemble “a sex worker – grabbing for a dollar bill”
Hahahahahaha. Talk about clutching at straws. Pretty sure that’s the first time ever a naked baby has been confused for a sex worker.
The lawsuit claims the image is “sexually graphic”, and says it makes Elden resemble “a sex worker – grabbing for a dollar bill”
I really wonder if anyone has come to that conclusion apart from him. I assumed it was some kind of vague anti-capitalist thing as in 'we are all trained to chase the dollar even from birth' kind of thing.
Given that Kurt’s estate alone is worth a reported $450M. Surely you’d just reach down the sofa, have a rummage, settle it?
Never that easy though, is it?
I presume this is what he is aiming/hoping for.
Think Cougar and brads have hit the nail on the head here.
Also in one of the links in that original link he said to a photographer he wanted to do a recreation naked. Americans and the art of suing I guess, hope its chuck(L)ed out of court
If anyone finds that image sexual then it’s not the image which is the problem.
Beautifully put.
Which album cover will be next? Spinal Tap’s Smell the Glove?
I'd go with
My Sharona or the Roxy music album I forgot the name of
Nevermind. Move on!
There’s always Led Zep Houses of the Holy , to say nothing of Scorpions Virgin Killer. (Don’t google that last one….)
The siamese twins from Smashing Pumpkins Siamese dream who presumably were on the cover for being errr *checks notes* siamese twins.
Talk about clutching at straws
Dollars.
Money-grabbing freeloader wants more.
Twunt.
While I'd agree it seems pretty meritless.
If he was harmed by the image then why did he consent to re-enacting it at various anniversary of the album’s release.
Is a really weak argument. It's along the same lines as "well she didn't fight back" or "but she was flirting with him [to try and diffuse the situation and get out]", or "they can't have a right to their iCloud photos remaining private because we've already seen their boobs in a film".
In that scenario he's got no power, the albums out there, even if he didn't come forward his name would be mentioned in hundreds of clickbait "you wouldn't believe what the Nirvana baby looks like now" articles. So it'd be entirely reasonable to try and do something like recreating it in order to try and keep some sort of ownership of the story rather than just waiting for the next flood of social media messages when clickbait.com shoves your photo in front of random people on the internet.
The siamese twins from Smashing Pumpkins Siamese dream who presumably were on the cover for being errr *checks notes* siamese twins.
Checks notes... Nope they weren't even sisters.
In that scenario he’s got no power,
You're right, he was flung in the pool at gunpoint so everyone knows who was the baby weiner. It traumatised him so much through his life that he kept doing it over and over. I don't know how the photographer lives with himself.
TINAS is right though. When someone who has been abused maintains friendship/contact with the abuser that doesn't negate the abuse does it. Not that I think that's directly relevant in this situation but it is a poor argument.
However I think there is an issue with consent here - maybe don't use babies for stuff like this given that they aren't able to understand the concept of consent. See also parents who constantly post pictures of their kids online. 😛
Attention seeking parasite.
Done without his permission. At 4 months he's well below the age where his personal permission can be given and thats solely in the hands of his parents, who received not only a fee for the shot, but were also given a platinum album.
Since then he's sought to capitalize on it for personal gain, and this seems like a further extension of this.
TINAS is right though.
No, he's not.
When someone who has been abused maintains friendship/contact with the abuser that doesn’t negate the abuse does it.
Of course it doesn't.
Not that I think that’s directly relevant in this situation but it is a poor argument.
See point 1. Its not relevant at all.
I have pictures of me in the scud at that age, perhaps I should report my parents as peados? Because that's essentially his argument that TINAS is supporting and in doing so totally belittling abuse victims in exactly the same way as the complainant.
Attention seeking parasite.
who are you referring to? Cobain's estate who've been made extremely wealthy partly because of the image? or perhaps Kirk Weddle the photographer that took the shot and seems to make a living selling it, and images like it probably charging thousands for their use?
Seems to me that they're exploiting it for all it's worth, why shouldn't the actual subject get in on the action?...It's a million and some change for the surviving members and Cobain's estate, they probably wouldn't notice it. "Here you go chap, no hard feelings, eh?"
seems to me to be the fair thing to do, but what do I know.
Just.... Beautiful
who are you referring to?
D'oh. Who do you think. The guy everyone from here to twitter and beyond is thinking and saying is trying to scam a free lunch, a $2,500,000 free lunch.
Oh aye, set a precedent, give any old tom dick or harry a million quid because he's on some album cover that his parents have already been paid for . I wonder what a signed Nirvana platinum disc sells for these days 😕 Like the one that the band gifted to his parents.
Cobain’s estate who’ve been made extremely wealthy partly because of the image? or perhaps
I think thats entirely down to the band and the music, not the cover pic. How bizarre to think that.
And perhaps ?. perhaps perhaps perhaps maybe perhaps. Lets go for the hypothetical maybe argument.
I wonder if Baxter Dury will sue his Dad’s estate for being on the cover of New Boots & Panties!
Which album cover will be next?
Blind Faith’s one will probably beat the top.
Surely to keep it to the same musical era the Bee girl from Blind Melon’s album should be next in line to sue. Small child, dead lead singer, all the elements are there. Plus she even danced in the video for No Rain. Surely some sort of humiliation bonus is on the cards too.
