Woody Allen apparently sued hipster clothing company American Apparel and its CEO Dov Charney for $10 million last year over the unauthorized use of Allen’s image on AA billboards in New York and Los Angeles.
Allen’s lawsuit states “the billboard falsely implied that Allen sponsored, endorsed or was associated with American Apparel.” He calls the ads “sleazy” and “infantile.” I am assuming that a part of his claimed damages is that the ads have negatively impacted on his professional reputation or that he would be paid at a certain level (based on the market for his services) for an authorized endorsement.
American Apparel has responded by arguing that Allen’s stock isn’t as high as he estimates after his relationship and subsequent marriage with Soon-Yi Previn, the adopted daughter of his ex Mia Farrow became media fodder 15 years ago. “Woody Allen expects $10 million for use of his image on billboards that were up and down in less than one week,” the company’s lawyer, Stuart Slotnick said. “Certainly, our belief is that after the various sex scandals that Woody Allen has been associated with, corporate America’s desire to have Woody Allen endorse their product is not what he may believe it is.”
Allen is fighting the “scorched earth” discovery measures being taken by AA’s attorneys in the case, which is set for trial in May. He, of course, claims that the scandals are irrelevant. The company said rehashing all aspects of these scandals is relevant considering the nature of the upcoming case.
The sordid details of the Soon-Yi affair are probably not legally relevant. But the existence of the scandal, I would think, is definitely relevant to either Allen’s earning power as a celebrity spokesperson or to the value of his personal reputation.
That said, AA seems pretty shady in this deal.
