News | Entertainment
13 Nov 2025 0:07
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
     12 Nov: Four key takeaways from the Eddie Murphy documentary Being Eddie
     11 Nov: Hilary Duff insists Disney weren't "willing" to embrace Lizzie McGuire in her 30s
     11 Nov: Kelsey Grammer says his family are "ecstatic" about his new baby boy
     11 Nov: Millie Bobby Brown won't be revealing her daughter's name to the world
     11 Nov: Sam Smith had liposuction at 13 after being mercilessly "teased" about their weight
     11 Nov: Meghan, Duchess of Sussex is returning to acting for the first time in almost a decade
     11 Nov: Aimee Lou Wood has described Los Angeles as "emotionally bulimic"
     Top Stories

    RUGBY RUGBY
    International hockey is inbound for Dunedin this summer More...


    BUSINESS BUSINESS
    Shares in Transport and logistics company Mainfreight have rallied today, despite the company posting an 18.5 percent drop in first-half profit More...



     Today's News

    Law and Order:
    A 30 year old man and a 63 year old woman have been arrested in relation to shoplifting and fraud across Christchurch totalling in excess of $20,000 21:57

    Business:
    Shares in Transport and logistics company Mainfreight have rallied today, despite the company posting an 18.5 percent drop in first-half profit 21:17

    Entertainment:
    Four key takeaways from the Eddie Murphy documentary Being Eddie 21:07

    Health & Safety:
    Christmas is coming early for some Kiwis, with Pharmac confirming five new approved treatments for conditions including cancer - from December 18:57

    Basketball:
    Breakers guard Reuben Te Rangi's admitting their ANBL basketball woes are starting to leave a mental imprint on the team 18:37

    Law and Order:
    ‘Leadership is morality magnified’ – what police must learn from the McSkimming scandal 18:17

    International:
    Louvre heist ‘detective’ Pedro reveals inspirations behind viral look 18:07

    Law and Order:
    Auckland International Airport's seized 15 million dollars worth of hidden meth - including in a fake book - in one week 18:07

    Netball:
    Absent Silver Ferns assistant coach Liana Leota could still rejoin the Ferns for their three-test series against England starting on Sunday 17:47

    International:
    Not introverted or extroverted? You could be an otrovert 17:17


     News Search






    Power Search


    © 2025 New Zealand City Ltd