News | Entertainment
13 Feb 2026 10:41
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.

    © 2026 Bang Showbiz, NZCity

     Other Entertainment News
     13 Feb: Cardi B and Stefon Diggs have sparked split speculation after unfollowing one another on Instagram
     13 Feb: David Beckham has sold his Miami penthouse for $24.6 million, making $4.8 million profit on the plush pad
     13 Feb: Warner Bros Discovery think the Harry Potter revival series will be the "streaming event of the decade"
     13 Feb: Chris Hemsworth admitted he proposed to Elsa Pataky in a very un-romantic way
     13 Feb: Marc Anthony says the Beckham family drama is "unfortunate", but insisted how it is playing out is "hardly the truth"
     13 Feb: Margot Robbie has recalled an actor giving her a book telling her to "eat less"
     13 Feb: Lewis Hamilton has been spending "as much time as possible" with Kim Kardashian ahead of the start of the Formula 1 season - and her mother "really approves" of their romance
     Top Stories

    RUGBY RUGBY
    The Blues believe they've unearthed a gem in Torian Barnes ahead of his Super Rugby debut on Saturday More...


    BUSINESS BUSINESS
    A collective ambition to make Canterbury one of the best regions to grow business and a great life More...



     Today's News

    Living & Travel:
    The Black Foils may miss taking to the water to test repairs on their boat today ahead of this weekend's SailGP Auckland regatta 10:37

    Law and Order:
    The Christchurch terrorist changed New Zealand, now he is testing its legal system 10:37

    Entertainment:
    Cardi B and Stefon Diggs have sparked split speculation after unfollowing one another on Instagram 10:21

    Environment:
    Concern for the storm-hit communities of the North Island's East Coast, with another weather system brewing 10:07

    National:
    Trust and ethics: the public and politicians no longer even agree on the basics 10:07

    International:
    Kim Jong Un set to pick daughter Kim Ju Ae to lead North Korea, South Korean intelligence says 10:07

    Law and Order:
    Auckland-based Samoan chief Moeaia Tuai has been handed a lengthy prison sentence for holding two immigrants in slavery 10:07

    Entertainment:
    David Beckham has sold his Miami penthouse for $24.6 million, making $4.8 million profit on the plush pad 9:51

    Law and Order:
    Police want to hear from the public after a person was shot in Auckland's Mission Bay last night 9:27

    Entertainment:
    Warner Bros Discovery think the Harry Potter revival series will be the "streaming event of the decade" 9:21


     News Search






    Power Search


    © 2026 New Zealand City Ltd