Real-life stripper Samantha Barbash says Lopez used the character inspired by her without permission.
The real-life stripper who inspired Jennifer Lopez’s character in ‘Hustlers’ has filed a $ 40 million lawsuit against officials at the actress’s production company, for using her image without permission.
Samantha Barbash states that Jennifer Lopez based her role as Ramona on her, although she rejected an offer from movie executives to sign the rights to her life story for the hit drama.
The adult dancer accuses officials of defame her, since Ramona is portrayed “using and manufacturing illegal substances in her home where she lived with her son”, something that Barbash offends, because she insists that it never happened.
He is now suing the bosses of the Nuyorican Productions de López company, seeking US $ 20 million for compensation, and another US $ 20 million in punitive damages, TMZ reports.
The superstar itself is not named in the lawsuit, but she served as one of the producers of the project, which has earned her critical acclaim, including nominations for the Screen Actors Guild Awards and the Golden Globes.
Hustlers representatives have not yet commented on the legal action.
The film is based on an article in New York magazine that went viral in 2015, about a group of exotic real-life dancers who cheat their wealthy clients.