“Inventing Anna”, another Shonda Rhimes hit, premiered in February.
The series based on real events, Inventing Annaon scammer Anna Sorokin, also known as Anna Delvey, has spawned a new legal battle against Netflix, the platform responsible for the fiction.
Rachel DeLoache Williams, played by actress Katie Lowes in the seriesMonday filed a libel suit against Netflix for its portrayal in Inventing Anna as published by the magazine People.
“This action will show that Netflix has made a deliberate decision for dramatic purposes. to show Williams doing or saying things in the series that portray her as greedy, snobbish, disloyal, dishonest, cowardly, manipulative and opportunisticlaw the case, filed with the US Delaware District Court.
Williams’ attorney Alexander Rufus-Isaacs said People: “The reason we had to close the case is because Netflix used Rachel’s real name and bio details and made her look like a horrible personwhich is not true. “For its part, Netflix has so far not commented on the case.
the story inside Vanity Fair
Williams, 34, wrote about her experience with Sorokin, 31, in 2018 for the magazine Vanity Fairwhere she worked as a photo editor when allegedly the false German heiress caused her to borrow about $ 62,000 on her corporate credit card during a trip to Morocco.
He later wrote the book My friend Anna: the true story of a false heiressreleased by Simon & Schuster in 2019, as well as signing a deal with HBO on her story, which was to be produced by Lena Dunham.
Basically, the lawsuit refutes how she was portrayed in the Netflix series, including negative comments about Sorokin’s friend Neff Davis (played by alessio floyd ), free use of Sorokin (Julia Garner)Sorokin’s abandonment to Morocco when he was in trouble.
“Actually, he never did or said those things. So, this action he is firmly based on demonstrably false factual claims and on the attribution of claims he has never made “, reads the complaint.
And he deepens: arguing that was portrayed as “a vile and despicable person”leading to “a torrent of online abuse, negative in-person interactions, and pejorative characterizations” directed at Williams.
The complaint refers to quotes from Lowes, 39, and series creator Shonda Rhimes, which seem to support the argument that they intentionally created fictional elements of the character to enhance the storyline.
He also claims that his character’s identity hasn’t been altered or hidden, assuming the choice was in retaliation for selling his story to HBO. “The catastrophic damage to Williams’ reputation was completely avoidable”says the cause.
“Netflix gave fictitious names to many of the real-life protagonists in the Sorokin saga that appear in the series, but it didn’t give Williams the same protection. Instead, they used his real name and personal data (such as his employer). and the neighborhood) in the series and chose an actress who resembled her in many ways.
Real name, fictitious name
“Given the easy alternative of protecting her by using a fictitious name, the decision to use her real name is proof of Netflix’s intention to damage her reputation, which justifies the imposition of punitive damages, especially if Netflix made this decision because Williams had sold his rights to Sorokin’s rival project developed by HBO.“, Keep it up.
Sorokin was found guilty on eight counts in 2019.including first degree grand theft attempt, second degree grand theft, third degree grand theft and service theft, after stealing over $ 200,000 from the New York elite and attempting to scam millions more from their friends and banks.
Although she was sentenced to four to 12 years in prison and a $ 24,000 fine, plus $ 198,956 in restitution, Sorokin was released for good behavior two years after her sentence and is currently in an ICE detention center as his lawyer tries to appeal his deportation. .
CJL
Source: Clarin
