Jennifer Lopez is back in the spotlight, but not for her music or movies this time. The pop icon is facing a hefty $300,000 lawsuit for posting pictures of herself on social media — and yes, you read that right.
Two photographers, including Edwin Blanco and photo agency Backgrid USA, have filed separate lawsuits against Lopez, claiming she shared nine images from a glamorous Golden Globes pre-party without getting their permission. The pictures, taken on January 4 at the star-studded Chateau Marmont in L.A., were posted on her Instagram and X (formerly Twitter) accounts.
What’s wrong? Despite the fact that the images are of J. Lo herself, copyright laws state that the owner of the rights is the photographer, not the subject. The lawsuits claim that Lopez’s use of the photos to enhance her reputation and promote fashion brands is considered commercial use. Without a license, that is strictly prohibited.
The plaintiffs claim that they made an effort to reach a settlement behind closed doors. According to them, there was even an oral agreement regarding payment, but Lopez allegedly never signed it or made the payment.
The singer-actress has previously found herself in legal hot water for reposting paparazzi photos. She was sued in 2019 for posting a picture of herself with Alex Rodriguez, who was her boyfriend at the time. In the end, that case was dropped.
But this new suit might really hurt her. Penalties for each photo can reach $150,000, for a total potential of $1.35 million.
Lopez hasn’t yet made a public statement on the subject
