News | Entertainment
12 Nov 2025 12:45
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
     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"
     11 Nov: Ariana Grande has made it clear that her music career is far from over, despite her growing presence in Hollywood
     Top Stories

    RUGBY RUGBY
    A laser-focused Carlos Alcaraz has gone two-from-two at tennis ATP Finals in Turin More...


    BUSINESS BUSINESS
    First home buyers are riding high in a property market fuelled by increased choice and favourable loan rules More...



     Today's News

    Rugby:
    A laser-focused Carlos Alcaraz has gone two-from-two at tennis ATP Finals in Turin 12:27

    Accident and Emergency:
    Coromandel Peninsula's State Highway 25 heading south from Whitianga is completely blocked - after a serious crash about 10am, seriously injuring one 11:57

    Living & Travel:
    New Zealand have blitzed their netball series against Scotland 2-nil, after an 80-48 victory in the second test at Glasgow 11:57

    Law and Order:
    An Auckland man has denied murdering a father and son in east Auckland last month 11:37

    National:
    From Trump’s wrecking ball to China’s electrifying rise, geopolitics hang heavy over this year’s climate talks 11:17

    Business:
    First home buyers are riding high in a property market fuelled by increased choice and favourable loan rules 10:57

    Politics:
    Otago University students are facing back to back increases to their tuition fees 10:47

    National:
    ‘Oh, the fog lying like a blanket over this sad town’: The Mushroom Tapes sees the humanity in an inhumane story 10:07

    Politics:
    There have been no official talks yet about compensation for the complainant against Jevon McSkimming 9:57

    Rugby League:
    The opening round of the NRL has been revealed for next season 9:27


     News Search






    Power Search


    © 2025 New Zealand City Ltd