Scarlett Johansson sues French novelist for ‘stealing’ her image

Scarlett Johansson is suing a French writer and trying to stop translations and film adaptations of his novel, alleging that the work of fiction makes fraudulent claims about her personal life and “commercial use” of her image, according to media reports (link in French).

“La Premiere Chose qu’On Regarde” (The First Thing We Look At), written by Gregoire Delacourt and published by JC Lattes, tells the story of a little-known model from Northern France who bears an eerie resemblance to the American actress. As the novel opens, the model is confused for the actress and begins to have a series of adventures as Johansson. Her identity is later uncovered.

Johansson’s suit alleges that the novel makes “fraudulent and illicit use of her name, her fame and her image,” the Telegraph reports. In addition to an injunction against further use of her image, the suit seeks $68,000 in damages.

Delacourt is one of France’s most popular authors. His previous novel, “My List of Desires,” sold nearly half a million copies and was translated into 47 languages.

Anne Veil, lawyer for the author and publisher, told the Telegraph the lawsuit’s allegations were “totally scandalous.”

“This is a literary, not commercial, approach. She has not been used as a product,” Veil said. “Gregory Delacourt is not a paparazzo, he’s a writer!”

Delacourt told French radio that his book was “a real love story and a homage to feminine beauty, especially interior beauty.”

“It freaks me out to think that when you talk of a character in a novel, judges can get involved,” the writer added. “It’s rather sad.”