News | Entertainment
24 Nov 2025 18:50
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
     24 Nov: Tom Daley is teaming up with Ben Sherman for a range of hats and scarves
     24 Nov: Sir Brian May's stroke was a "wake-up call"
     24 Nov: Cynthia Erivo noted she and Ariana Grande have had to "come through some stuff" in their lives and work
     24 Nov: Timothée Chalamet believes Adam Sandler is one of the greatest actors of all time
     24 Nov: Pierce Brosnan would love to return to the James Bond franchise - admitting it will be "exciting to see what happens"
     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
     Top Stories

    RUGBY RUGBY
    Confidence that Christchurch can deliver sellout Rugby League crowds More...


    BUSINESS BUSINESS
    Criticism of Air New Zealand's reliability - with strike action looming on December 8 More...



     Today's News

    Entertainment:
    Tom Daley is teaming up with Ben Sherman for a range of hats and scarves 18:38

    Accident and Emergency:
    A person's been seriously injured at work - in Opotiki in eastern Bay of Plenty 18:37

    Politics:
    Former British PM David Cameron says he has been treated for prostate cancer 18:17

    Entertainment:
    Sir Brian May's stroke was a "wake-up call" 18:08

    Cricket:
    Black Caps coach Rob Walter has shrugged off wicketkeeper concerns in his test side 18:07

    Entertainment:
    Cynthia Erivo noted she and Ariana Grande have had to "come through some stuff" in their lives and work 17:38

    Business:
    Criticism of Air New Zealand's reliability - with strike action looming on December 8 17:27

    Entertainment:
    Timothée Chalamet believes Adam Sandler is one of the greatest actors of all time 17:08

    Rugby League:
    Auckland FC wants your babies 16:57

    Rugby League:
    Confidence that Christchurch can deliver sellout Rugby League crowds 16:47


     News Search






    Power Search


    © 2025 New Zealand City Ltd