Nirvana’s surviving members and the estate of Kurt Cobain have been sued by Spencer Elden, who appeared as a baby on the cover of 1991’s Nevermind. Elden claims the band violated federal child pornography statutes and argues child sexual exploitation, TMZ reports and documents viewed by Pitchfork confirm. In a lawsuit that also named photographer Kirk Weddle and the labels behind the album’s release, Elden claims he has suffered “lifelong damages” and says neither he nor his guardians consented to the image’s use. Elden is seeking damages and a trial by jury.
Elden recreated the image multiple times over the years and had the word “Nevermind” tattooed on his chest, but in a 2016 interview with GQ Australia, Elden revealed that he had recently become unhappy about the Nevermind artwork. “It’s fucked up,” he said. “I’m pissed off about it, to be honest.”
This story is developing. Pitchfork has reached out to representatives for Nirvana for comment.