A Louisiana couple say actress and singer Jessica Simpson went too far when she tried to pass off their baby as her own for a magazine cover.
The couple is suing Simpson, 32, OK! magazine and Getty Images (which sold the photo). Simpson is accused of double-dipping — trying to make money from OK! magazine after she had signed away the exclusive rights to her newborn’s photos to another magazine for six-figures.
According to the lawsuit, Christopher Hurst and Tracy Gregory took their 2 children to a Dillard’s Department store in Metairie to meet Simpson, who was signing autographs in October 2011.
As Hurst and Gregory were standing in line to get an autograph, they say another individual in line suggested that they let Simpson take a photo with their baby boy. As they handed their son to Simpson, a photographer for Getty images appeared out of nowhere and began snapping photos.
Months later, Hurst and Gregory were shocked to see their baby on the cover of OK! magazine.
Amazingly, Simpson and her accomplices at OK! magazine didn’t think the couple would notice their own son on the cover!
The lawsuit claims another publication paid Simpson $800,000 for the exclusive rights to the photos of her firstborn, Maxwell — a girl.
The lawsuit alleges that Simpson and OK! magazine conspired to publish a photo of another baby without informing their readers that the child was not Simpson’s.
The couple say they did not sign a release form giving OK! magazine permission to publish a photo of their son. They are seeking $75,000 in damages.
“What happened in this situation was wrong,” said Michael North, the couple’s attorney. “It’s not something that ever should happen. Our immediate aim is to find out how it happened and why it happened and determine who is responsible.”
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