Baby from Nevermind sues Nirvana for child exploitation

[Rorman Nockwell]

Idk how I feel about this (although of course it's not my decision or life so I'm not judging him).

One on hand, he has a right to feel this way, but on the other, it's clear that this cover is not, and never was, intended to be sexual in any way, shape or form. I have always interpreted the cover as depicting how innocence is corrupted by capitalism and greed. I think Kurt would be devastated if he were alive and aware of this.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-08-25/baby-from-nirvana-nevermind-album-cover-sues-band/100406408

 

[Flowerbomb]

My first thought was that maybe he just wants money, but upon further thought, I suppose I can understand why he wants to sue. Children can't really consent to having that kind of worldwide exposure of their bodies, and personally I would feel icky and angry about it years later too. I never found the cover sexual myself, but I can imagine he's probably gone through a LOT of teasing because of it 

[honey dew]

Yea I mean how is an image of a naked baby inherently sexually exploitative,, babies are asexual,,,,,, this guy is just desperate for cash

[Rorman Nockwell]

  On 8/25/2021 at 11:05 AM, Arcadia said:

My first thought was that maybe he just wants money, but upon further thought, I suppose I can understand why he wants to sue. Children can't really consent to having that kind of worldwide exposure of their bodies, and personally I would feel icky and angry about it years later too. I never found the cover sexual myself, but I can imagine he's probably gone through a LOT of teasing because of it 

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My first thought was "well, why isn't he suing his parents who signed him up for this?" but apparently nothing was ever signed (or so the suit alleges).

It's a difficult situation. At the very least any new copies that are made should have a new cover, imo. Idk if they'd still be printing copies all these years later, although it's an iconic album so probably.

[May]

To be clear he’s recreated the album cover 3 times as an adult, he has ‘nevermind’ tattooed across his entire chest, he’s done ten’s of interviews in the past calling it ‘iconic’ and saying it’s been a huge advantage for him in life, and the only reason he suddenly hates it and Nirvana is because they didn’t get back to him about participating in his art show: 

In the past you’ve said it was cool. When did that change?  

Just a few months ago, when
 I was reaching out to Nirvana to see if they wanted to be part of my art show. I was getting referred to their managers and their lawyers. Why am I still on their cover if
I’m not that big of a deal? 

Why’d you reach out to them?  

I was trying to do an art show with the photographer who took the picture. I was asking if they wanted to put a piece of art in the ****ing thing.

[Jaeden xx]

I feel like he is low on cash because the amount of times he has said about him being the baby doing photo shoots getting a Nevermind tattoo on him honestly seems a bit silly 

 

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He can see why he would want to sue but with all the other stuff he has done about it like posing and getting the album name tattoo guess we will just have to wait and see what happens 

 

 

[DeadSeaOfMercury]

  On 8/25/2021 at 11:19 AM, May said:

To be clear he’s recreated the album cover 3 times as an adult, he has ‘nevermind’ tattooed across his entire chest, he’s done ten’s of interviews in the past calling it ‘iconic’ and saying it’s been a huge advantage for him in life, and the only reason he suddenly hates it and Nirvana is because they didn’t get back to him about participating in his art show: 

In the past you’ve said it was cool. When did that change?  

Just a few months ago, when
 I was reaching out to Nirvana to see if they wanted to be part of my art show. I was getting referred to their managers and their lawyers. Why am I still on their cover if
I’m not that big of a deal? 

Why’d you reach out to them?  

I was trying to do an art show with the photographer who took the picture. I was asking if they wanted to put a piece of art in the ****ing thing.

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Your pfp frightened me.

[BluebirdXO]

He's just bitter because they didn't go to his art show

[lanasgirl]

What a loser, honestly. I'd understand if he wasn't desperate for publicity. But this is a clear case of "Let's just say this was problematic because that's gonna get me attention again"

[prettywhenimhigh]

yeah based on how he always acted about being on the cover... he's bitter 

[Super Movie]

Very interesting that he never brought this up until after he got upset that they (ie: Dave and Krist most likely) didn't respond to him asking about his art show.... usually, I'd understand where he's coming from. However, he's been actively supporting and recreating the cover for years, so it definitely comes off as suspicious. And generally, I think seeing the cover as pornography at all is a strange take when it was made clear by the band 30 years ago that that wasn't the intention

[ChaoticLipster]

  On 8/25/2021 at 11:19 AM, May said:

To be clear he’s recreated the album cover 3 times as an adult, he has ‘nevermind’ tattooed across his entire chest, he’s done ten’s of interviews in the past calling it ‘iconic’ and saying it’s been a huge advantage for him in life, and the only reason he suddenly hates it and Nirvana is because they didn’t get back to him about participating in his art show: 

In the past you’ve said it was cool. When did that change?  

Just a few months ago, when
 I was reaching out to Nirvana to see if they wanted to be part of my art show. I was getting referred to their managers and their lawyers. Why am I still on their cover if
I’m not that big of a deal? 

Why’d you reach out to them?  

I was trying to do an art show with the photographer who took the picture. I was asking if they wanted to put a piece of art in the ****ing thing.

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It’s 100% about money, and I hope his case get’s thrown out the ungrateful vulture. He should be thankful for the fame it’s given him. I’m offended he’s using child exploitation for his own gain how disgusting. 

 

 

[Mer]

Pretentious twat and his idiotic art show. Making a mockery of the courts. 

[Rorman Nockwell]

Courtney's latest IG caption refers to "weird lawsuits" (and also working w Justin Parker). 

 

I mean I'd be very surprised if there wasn't a verbal agreement, at least - and if there wasn't, why didn't his parents object when it was released or any time since? He should be mad at his 'rents and not Nirvana imo. But I am also sorry he feels that way and I'd imagine they'd reach a settlement and change the cover. 

[TRENCH]

apart from everyones else's post who I agree with, he cant just technically say that the whole world knows who he is because if he had never come out of the shadow and just lived a private life, for me and everyone else he would've been "a generic caucasian baby who by chance was photographed underwater", and not " Spencer Elden, the nirvana cover baby "

[Rorman Nockwell]

The whole thing makes the cover somewhat prophetic, when you think about it.

[born2lie]

Tbh they should censor it if he wants them to but he shouldn't get any money from it.