Surviving members of Nirvana and Kurt Cobain’s estate have been sued by Spencer Elden, who appeared as a baby on the cover of 1991. Do not care. Elden claims the gang violated federal child pornography statutes and argues that there is child sexual exploitation, as confirmed by TMZ reports and documents viewed by Pitchfork. Pitchfork has contacted Nirvana representatives for comment.
In a lawsuit that also named photographer Kirk Weddle and the labels behind the album’s release, Elden claims he has suffered “lifelong damage” and says his legal guardians never signed a release. would authorize the use of any image of Spencer or his likeness, and certainly not of commercial child pornography that represents him. ” He is also suing the distribution of sexually explicit private material, negligence and what is described as a “sex trafficking company” in which Elden “was forced to engage in commercial sexual acts while under the age of 18.”
Elden seeks damages, attorneys’ fees, a ban on prohibiting all parties from “continuing to engage in the wrongful acts and practices described herein,” and a jury trial.
“The permanent damage he has suffered soon includes, among other things, extreme and permanent emotional distress with physical manifestations, interference in his normal development and educational progress, loss of the ability to earn a living for life, the loss of past and future wages, past and future expenses for medical and psychological treatment, loss of enjoyment of life and other losses that must be described and proven in the judgment of this matter, ”the lawsuit states. .
Weddle was a friend of Elden’s father, Rick, who was how young Spencer ended up on the album cover. “[Weddle] he called us and said, “Hey Rick, I want to earn $ 200 and throw your son in the drink,” Rick told NPR in 2008. ” He would say to me, “What’s going on?” And it’s like, “Well, I’ve been shooting kids all this week, why don’t you meet me at the Rose Bowl, throw your son in the drink?” And we just had a great pool party and no one had any idea what was going on! ”Spencer reportedly received a platinum copy of Do not care and a teddy bear from Geffen Records in 1991.
Elden recreated the image several times over the years and tattooed the word “Nevermind” on his chest, but in a 2016 interview with GQ Australia, Elden revealed that he had recently become dissatisfied with the Do not care work of art. “He’s fucked,” he said. “Honestly, I’m angry about that.”
This article was originally published on August 24 at 9:39 PM East. It was last updated on August 24 at 10:18 PM East.