News | Entertainment
6 Jul 2025 5:21
NZCity News
NZCity CalculatorReturn to NZCity

  • Start Page
  • Personalise
  • Sport
  • Weather
  • Finance
  • Shopping
  • Jobs
  • Horoscopes
  • Lotto Results
  • Photo Gallery
  • Site Gallery
  • TVNow
  • Dating
  • SearchNZ
  • NZSearch
  • Crime.co.nz
  • RugbyLeague
  • Make Home
  • About NZCity
  • Contact NZCity
  • Your Privacy
  • Advertising
  • Login
  • Join for Free

  •   Home > News > Entertainment

    Spencer Elden has re-filed his lawsuit against Nirvana over the artwork for 'Nevermind'

    Elden - who was four months old when he was photographed naked in a swimming pool reaching out for a dollar bill on a fishing line for the band's iconic 1990 album - has reinstated his case after his initial complaint was dismissed by a judge last week.


    He has claimed the photo constitutes child pornography, and he filed papers on Wednesday (12.01.22) which ensured he met the judge's deadline to reinstate the case.

    Elden's initial case was thrown out after the 30 year old failed to respond after Nirvana and their co-defendants filed a motion to dismiss.

    In his amended complaint, Elden is no longer claiming the creation of the picture entailed his sex trafficking when he was a baby.

    However, he is still alleging that the band "intentionally" marketed a picture which constitutes "child pornography".

    Meanwhile, his lawyers have included a statement from art director Robert Fisher - who worked on the cover and was named in the original lawsuit before being dropped as a defendant on December 22 - as he claimed he advised the band and record label that the the baby's genitalia could be digitally removed.

    Fisher's statement also features an early mock-up of the 'Nevermind'

    cover, which uses a stock image of a different baby without their genitalia exposed.

    Elden's lawyers alleged: "Like creators of other controversial album covers, the defendants sought to garner attention by using a sexually explicit image that intentionally focused on Spencer's carefully positioned enlarged genitals."

    Elden is calling for damages of at least $150,000 from each defendant - including surviving band members Dave Grohl and Krist Novoselic, as well as Kurt Cobain's widow Courtney Love and photographer Kirk Weddle, and record labels Geffen and Universal Music.

    Nirvana's lawyers had filed to dismiss and said the 30-year-old's arguments - including claims the artwork caused him "extreme and permanent emotional distress" plus loss of wages and "enjoyment of life"

    - lacked merit.

    They added: "Elden's claim that the photograph on the Nevermind album cover is 'child pornography' is, on its face, not serious."

    They said that anyone owning a copy of the record would "on Elden's theory [be] guilty of felony possession of child pornography".

    Their lawyers continued: "He has re-enacted the photograph in exchange for a fee, many times; he has had the album title... tattooed across his chest; he has appeared on a talk show wearing a self-parodying, nude-colored onesie; he has autographed copies of the album cover for sale on eBay; and he has used the connection to try to pick up women."

    Now, the defendants have until January 27 to respond to the latest complaint.

    © 2025 Bang Showbiz, NZCity

     Other Entertainment News
     05 Jul: Jessie J is feeling "positive and grateful" following her breast cancer surgery, but she is "missing being an active mum" and has stopped taking pain medication
     05 Jul: Olivia Munn has alleged a director tried to "ruin her chances" of working after a disagreement on set
     05 Jul: Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson has thanked Jelly Roll for helping him through a "very hard" time
     05 Jul: Annabelle Dexter-Jones and Daniel Humm are married
     05 Jul: Martin Short was stunned when Meryl Streep admitted she was nervous on her first day filming Only Murders in the Building
     05 Jul: Quinta Brunson is "looking forward" to her future away from Abbott Elementary
     05 Jul: Nelly and Ashanti take very different approaches to parenting
     Top Stories

    RUGBY RUGBY
    The basketball might of the United States isn't fazing the Junior Tall Blacks ahead of their historic Under-19 World Cup semifinal, overnight in Switzerland More...


    BUSINESS BUSINESS
    The Toyota's RAV4's held it's top spot as the favourite passenger car - in a standout month for vehicle sales More...



     Today's News

    Accident and Emergency:
    A homicide investigation is now being carried out after a baby found with critical injuries at a Foxton Beach house died in hospital 4:46

    Basketball:
    The basketball might of the United States isn't fazing the Junior Tall Blacks ahead of their historic Under-19 World Cup semifinal, overnight in Switzerland 21:57

    Entertainment:
    Jessie J is feeling "positive and grateful" following her breast cancer surgery, but she is "missing being an active mum" and has stopped taking pain medication 21:36

    Rugby:
    An agonising three-point defeat for the Maori All Blacks ... but a historic win for Scotland ... on Sky Sport 21:17

    Entertainment:
    Olivia Munn has alleged a director tried to "ruin her chances" of working after a disagreement on set 21:06

    Entertainment:
    Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson has thanked Jelly Roll for helping him through a "very hard" time 20:36

    Entertainment:
    Annabelle Dexter-Jones and Daniel Humm are married 20:06

    Entertainment:
    Martin Short was stunned when Meryl Streep admitted she was nervous on her first day filming Only Murders in the Building 19:36

    Entertainment:
    Quinta Brunson is "looking forward" to her future away from Abbott Elementary 19:06

    Environment:
    Torrential rain has unleashed deadly flash floods along the Guadalupe River in south-central Texas 18:37


     News Search






    Power Search


    © 2025 New Zealand City Ltd