The Real-Life Inspiration for Jennifer Lopez's Character for 'Hustler' is Suing for Defamation
The makers of the movie, 'Hustler' are being sued for defamation of character by the real-life inspiration of Jennifer Lopez's character of the film, Samantha Barbash. Barbash claims her likeness was used as inspiration for the movie without her permission. According to Rolling Stone, her lawyer says “My client is offended that the defendants used her likeness to make over $150 million, defamed her character and tried to trick her into selling her rights to the production company for a mere $6000.00.”
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The Real-Life Inspiration For Jennifer Lopez's Character In 'Hustlers' Is Suing For Defamation
The movie, 'Hustler' is based on the 2015 New York Magazine story, 'The Hustlers at Scores'. This story in the New York magazine talked about Samantha Barbash who pleaded guilty for the real-life scheme. She pleaded guilty for assault, conspiracy, and grand larceny. She ended up getting five years probation for her involvement in it.
Although everything in the movie was fictional, Barbash says they used her real-life events for the inspiration for the character Jennifer Lopez played in it.
The character Jennifer Lopez played in Hustlers was named Ramona and Barbash says the character is too similar to her and what she did in the real-life scheme.
According to the lawsuit filed against the filmmakers, Barbash did not give away her life rights to them when they tried to 'trick her into selling them for a mere $6,000.' The lawsuit also says, “with blatant disregard for their lack of authority and/or consent, Defendants proceeded to exploit Ms. Barbash’s likeness and character for the film and the promotion thereof.”
Barbash has lawsuits against STX Films, Gloria Sanchez Productions, Pole Sister's LLC, and Jennifer Lopez's Nuyorican Productions. According to a spokesman for STX Films, they tell Rolling Stone "While we have not yet seen the complaint, we will continue to defend our right to tell factually based stories based on the public record.”
A representative for Lopez's Nuyorican Productions refused to comment on the lawsuit and the rep for Gloria Sanchez Productions did not get back to Rolling Stone right away with their request for comment.
Barbash's lawsuit also says that the production companies did not try to create a fictional character or fictionalize her life but instead they "engaged in a systematic effort to make it well-known that JLO was playing Ms. Barbash.”
For example, according to the lawsuit, the defendant says the filmmakers talked about the real-life events that inspired the movie during the promotion of it, on purpose. They also talked about Barbash's life; including her place of employment, her legal proceedings, and the plea deal that was made.
The movie even shows the exact moment when 'Ramona' flips off the cameraman after taking her plea deal outside of the courtroom. This is the same thing Barbash did at the exact moment but in real life.
Barbashs' lawsuit is for $40 million. This includes monetary and exemplary damages. It also includes the fact that if she wins her suit, STX Films would be prohibited from distributing or remaking the movie, Hustlers.
Barbash started threatening to file her lawsuit against the filmmakers before they made the movie back in September.
According to a comment by Barbash to the New York Post, she said, "We’re putting a stop to it because she’s actually misrepresenting me. I was never a stripper. It’s defamation of character.” In fact, Barbash used to work as a hostess.
