Spencer Elden, of ‘Nevermind’ album cover, is Suing Nirvana for Child Pornography

He is suing for $150,000 for child sexual exploitation

POSTED BY CIARÀN HOWLEY

Spencer Elden was just four months old when he became an icon of the 1990s grunge movement, as well as music history. However, it has now emerged that Elden is planning on suing the band for alleged “child sexual exploitation.” 

The infamous album cover depicts a naked Elden, submerged underwater in a swimming pool with a hand outstretched toward money on a fish hook. 

Elden claims that the images have not only been the cause of severe trauma throughout his life and that he has suffered “lifelong damages” as a result. He is seeking $150,000 in damages from the band members, the executor of Kurt Cobain’s estate (Courtney Love), and the band’s record label for knowing production and distribution of child pornography. 

Throughout his adult life, Elden has expressed his discomfort with the image particularly for an album that is so popular. He expressed that he finds it “kind of creepy that many people have seen me naked...I feel like the world’s biggest porn star.” He has often been asked to attend Nirvana fan events. 

Released in 1991, 'Nevermind' was the band’s breakout album, featuring several of their best known hits such as ‘Come as You Are’, ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit’, ‘Lithium’ and ‘Polly.’ Three years after its success, Cobain died of suicide. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Nirvana (@off1cial_nirvana)

According to the lawsuit, Elden “has been and will continue to suffer personal injury by the distribution and possession of child pornography”, namely emotional distress and loss of potential income. 

 

Next Up, We Chat To Ella Rosa About Her Latest Single 'Just Me Feat 24hrs'

UP NEXT ON THE HITLIST
Ok