News | Entertainment
24 Nov 2025 2:32
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
     23 Nov: Tori Kelly has given birth to her first child
     23 Nov: Jeremy Renner's lawyer has insisted he and Yi Zhou have not resolved their conflict
     23 Nov: Kim Kardashian broke down in tears with the pressure of studying for her legal exams
     23 Nov: Lottie Tomlinson says having children has "healed" part of her, after she lost her mother and sister
     23 Nov: Princess Beatrice says the experience of a premature birth can "incredibly lonely"
     23 Nov: Denise Richards is thankful for her "great support system" amid her divorce from Aaron Phypers
     23 Nov: Kelsey Grammer's ex-wife is "living [her] best life" thanks to her divorce settlement
     Top Stories

    RUGBY RUGBY
    The fixtures for next year's Rugby League World Cup have been confirmed, with Christchurch getting the nod to host a double-header on October 25th More...


    BUSINESS BUSINESS
    A Titanic passenger's gold pocket watch has fetched more than $NZ4-million at auction More...



     Today's News

    Motoring:
    F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix: Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris disqualified, Max Verstappen wins 23:17

    Business:
    A Titanic passenger's gold pocket watch has fetched more than $NZ4-million at auction 21:57

    Motorsports:
    Disaster for Liam Lawson during the opening lap of Formula One's Las Vegas Grand Prix, on Sky Sport.. 21:17

    Health & Safety:
    Meta shut down internal research into the mental health effects of Facebook and Instagram after finding causal evidence that its products harmed users' mental health 18:57

    Environment:
    Tropical cyclone Fina has felled huge trees across northeast parts of Australia in a rampage that residents are glad to see the back of 18:37

    Rugby League:
    The fixtures for next year's Rugby League World Cup have been confirmed, with Christchurch getting the nod to host a double-header on October 25th 18:07

    Soccer:
    No excuses from Auckland FC defender Francis de Vries following his side's 1-all draw with the Brisbane Roar at Mt Smart 17:37

    Rugby:
    A final departing message from All Blacks assistant coach Jason Holland after ending his tenure with the national side 17:37

    Cricket:
    The England cricket team won't be dwelling on their humbling eight-wicket loss to Australia in the first Ashes test in Perth 17:37

    Politics:
    Concerns about how workforces will be affected by boosting KiwiSaver contributions further 17:07


     News Search






    Power Search


    © 2025 New Zealand City Ltd