News | Entertainment
4 Dec 2025 21:11
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
     04 Dec: Taylor Swift and Hugh Jackman were allegedly present during a confrontation between Ryan Reynolds and Justin Baldoni
     04 Dec: Khloe Kardashian wants to swap lives with Kylie Jenner because she lives "in a fairytale"
     04 Dec: Celine Dion has urged her fans to "take a deep breath" in a Thanksgiving message
     04 Dec: Kim Kardashian has felt like "snapping" over her ex-husband Kanye West's comments about her
     04 Dec: Pope Leo has warned that the "future of humanity is at stake" amid wars around the globe
     04 Dec: Ioan Gruffudd and his wife Bianca Wallace have welcomed their first child together
     04 Dec: Kylie Minogue doesn't cook at Christmas
     Top Stories

    RUGBY RUGBY
    All Blacks skipper Scott Barrett is relaxed about a possible quarter-final meeting with the Springboks at the 2027 World Cup More...


    BUSINESS BUSINESS
    IKEA's presence in New Zealand - may give local retailers a needed wake-up call More...



     Today's News

    Politics:
    Condoms and contraceptives to become more expensive in China as Beijing accelerates push to lift birth rate 21:07

    Entertainment:
    Taylor Swift and Hugh Jackman were allegedly present during a confrontation between Ryan Reynolds and Justin Baldoni 21:06

    Entertainment:
    Khloe Kardashian wants to swap lives with Kylie Jenner because she lives "in a fairytale" 20:36

    Cricket:
    Rachin Ravindra and Tom Latham have posted New Zealand's highest third-wicket batting partnership against the West Indies to dominate on the third day of the opening cricket test in Christchurch 20:07

    Entertainment:
    Celine Dion has urged her fans to "take a deep breath" in a Thanksgiving message 20:06

    Entertainment:
    Kim Kardashian has felt like "snapping" over her ex-husband Kanye West's comments about her 19:36

    Entertainment:
    Pope Leo has warned that the "future of humanity is at stake" amid wars around the globe 19:06

    Business:
    IKEA's presence in New Zealand - may give local retailers a needed wake-up call 18:57

    Entertainment:
    Ioan Gruffudd and his wife Bianca Wallace have welcomed their first child together 18:36

    International:
    Here's what is known about sex offender Jeffrey Epstein's islands in the Caribbean 18:17


     News Search






    Power Search


    © 2025 New Zealand City Ltd