The baby featured on the cover of Nirvana’s 1991 album Nevermind, now 30-year-old Spencer Elden has filed suit against the band and others for sexual exploitation. He is asking for $150,000 in damages from each of the defendants, including Kurt Cobain’s estate, members of Nirvana, photographer Kirk Weddle, Universal Music, Geffen Records, Warner Records and MCA Music. There are 15 defendants in total.
Elden has stated that the defendants knowingly distributed the nude photo of him as a 4-month-old baby and profited from it. According to the lawsuit, Elden’s parents never signed a release authorizing the use of the image, and Elden himself never received any compensation.
Elden had the word “Nevermind” tattooed on his chest and has recreated the image several times over the years but has consistently mentioned his discomfort with the image in interviews. For example, Elden said, “Recently I’ve been thinking, ‘What if I wasn’t OK with my freaking penis being shown to everybody?’ I didn’t really have a choice,” to the New York Post. And in a 2016 interview with GQ Australia, he said, “It’s fucked up. I’m pissed off about it, to be honest.”
“Spencer’s true identity and legal name are forever tied to the commercial sexual exploitation he experienced as a minor,” wrote Elden’s attorney Robert Lewis in the lawsuit.
15 Comments comments associated with this post
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December 23, 2021 at 2:06 pm[…] lawyer for Nirvana has officially responded to the lawsuit regarding the artwork featured on the band’s 1991 album Nevermind. A motion to dismiss was filed yesterday, Dec. […]
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September 24, 2021 at 1:26 pm[…] Some may recall, Nevermind reentered the public consciousness just last month when the baby featured on the cover – now 30-year-old Spencer Elden – filed suit against the band and others for sexual exploitation. […]
Stan
August 26, 2021 at 6:51 pmWhy is a naked baby considered child pornography? It’s the most natural thing in the world. Only in a society this sick and twisted, would an infant child be sexualizas. It’s also very insulting to children who are actually victims of sexual abuse to group this in with them.
Tim
August 26, 2021 at 6:25 pmKurt Cobain wanted to put a sticker on the album that said: “If you are offended in any way by this image, you are a pedophile”.
Patrick
August 26, 2021 at 3:12 pm🤡
Phun_Phish_Psyz
August 26, 2021 at 3:06 pmHow many people knew it was you before you made it public knowledge? I would move forward with litigation against yourself and your parents.
Steamdude
August 26, 2021 at 3:04 pmSounds like his other opportunities to exploit this for profit have dried up, so he decided to sue.
F*cking lawyers.
“Any town too small to support one attorney can always support two”
MeEatMe
August 26, 2021 at 2:02 pmWhat a tool. If this doesn’t get thrown out of court, then we’re all screwed.
Frank Rizzo
August 26, 2021 at 10:57 pmThis is fucking dumb. The guy is suing because he’s broke. What a joke? Get a job loser. I would be proud to be that naked baby on the cover of a Nirvana album.
Man Photographed as a Baby for Nirvana’s ‘Nevermind’ Files Lawsuit for Exploitation - Musicians Territory
August 26, 2021 at 12:25 pm[…] post Man Photographed as a Baby for Nirvana’s ‘Nevermind’ Files Lawsuit for Exploitation appeared first on […]
Nice
August 26, 2021 at 10:48 amSounds like a case for Jackie Chiles.
“It’s outrageous, egregious, preposterous.”
Weir
August 25, 2021 at 11:52 pmWow this is stupid
Me Eat
August 25, 2021 at 10:34 pmDid his adult penis come to be embarrassing small? I could see his anger from that angle…
Eat Me
August 25, 2021 at 5:50 pmSue your parent idiot. Tort suits from minors lose the statue of limitations 3 years after turning 21. Too bad…
Nope
August 26, 2021 at 5:21 amExactly, eat me. Coulda woulda shoulda Sue’d your parents