Vanna White Sues Playboy Over Photos

“Wheel of Fortune” game show hostess Vanna White filed a $5.2-million lawsuit Friday in an effort to stop publication of revealing photographs in the May issue of Playboy magazine, her lawyer said.

The non-nude photographs, taken in 1982, were not given to Playboy with White’s permission, attorney Louis M. Meisinger said. The Los Angeles Superior Court suit claims that a photographer sold the pictures to Playboy for $100,000.

Playboy spokeswoman Robyn L. Radomski called the pictures “tasteful, quality shots” and said White posed in lingerie for several of the pictures.

White, who turns lighted letters on the syndicated television show, claims in the suit that the photos were taken for her private use and that publication would invade her privacy and tarnish her image as a modest, wholesome, attractive and innocent all-American girl.

“We are surprised and saddened by the lawsuit, and feel it is without merit,” said Bruce Binkow, director of communications for Playboy in Los Angeles. The pictures are from late 1982, when White worked briefly as a lingerie model at the same time she was being considered for “Wheel of Fortune,” he said.

The pictorial was postponed from Playboy’s January issue at White’s request to coincide with release of her autobiography, Binkow said. He added that the magazine hopes the pictorial will “only enhance her already tremendous popularity.”

The Superior Court suit seeks injunctive relief, as well as $200,000 in special damages and $5 million in punitive damages, Meisinger said.

No hearing date has been set, he said.