Woody Allen American Apparel Lawsuit Turns Ugly
Last year American Apparel Inc. used images of Woody Allen on the internet and on billboards in New York and Hollywood, which were taken down within a week.
The 73-year-old actor, who doesn’t endorse products in the United States, sued the clothing company for $10 million saying he did not authorize use of his image in the advertising.
Now American Apparel is fighting back. With a court date set for May 18 in Manhattan, the company claims they can’t have damaged Allen’s reputation, since he had already done that himself.
The company plans to focus on the actor’s 1992 affair and subsequent marriage to ex-wife Mia Farrow’s adopted daughter Soon-Yi Previn at the trial.
“Certainly, our belief is that after the various sex scandals that Woody Allen has been associated with, corporate America’s desire to have Woody Allen endorse their product is not what he may believe it is,” said the company’s attorney Stuart Slotnick.
Allen’s lawsuit said the billboards falsely implied that Allen sponsored, endorsed or was associated with American Apparel.
“Woody Allen expects $10 million for use of his image on billboards that were up and down in less than one week. I think Woody Allen overestimates the value of his image,” Slotnick said.
photo: WENN
Related Articles:
- Rob Lowe Wins Bitter NannyGate Court Case
- Queen Latifah Sued
- Timbaland Files Lawsuit Against Blackground Records
- Celebrity Lawsuit: Hair Stylist Kim Vo Burns Client's Head
- Bruce Willis Walks Off Set and Gets Sued
- Monika Zsibrita: Nude Model's Lawsuit Against Chris Rock Unsealed (Photos)
- Sam Lutfi: Restraining Orders, Lawsuits and Losing His Home
- Lark Previn Has Died, Daughter of Actress Mia Farrow (Photos)
- Woody Allen Rocks 'Em in Poland (Photo, Video)
- Suzanne Somers Slapped With Lawsuit Over Failed Business Venture
- Woody Allen and Soon-Yi Previn, Unlikely Alliance Thrives (Photos)
Filed under: Celebrities
I saw the billboard and it seemed to be pretty tongue in cheek? A bit of an obvious parody of something? Either way, it seems pretty silly for a guy like Woody to call somebody “sleazy” when you think about who he is.
I think you’re taking those statements out of context a little. There’s a decent article on Gothamist about it but I think they’re calling it a social statement. Woody is claiming that the “ad” damaged his reputation. American Apparel is saying firstly, that it wasn’t an ad, and secondly that if the jury decides that it was an ad, they couldn’t have ruined his reputation because it was already in bad shape.
I guess you could describe that as ugly but to me it seems clear that this is a 1st Amendment issue that has some big implications. The legal whining on both sides is just a distraction.
i heart american apparel. Is it not obvious why. Viva the movement.