Samantha Barbash — the former stripper who inspired Jennifer Lopez’s critically-acclaimed turn as Romana Vega in 2019 film “Hustlers” — is suing the Bronx-born diva for $40 million.
In court documents obtained by The Blast, Barbash, 47, claims Lopez, 50, and her company Nuyorican Productions “exploited” her likeness in the film without her permission.
According to the former dancer, film producers approached her before filming the summer hit to “obtain a consent and waiver from Ms. Barbash for the production of the film and their ultimate portrayal” of her in the movie. After refusing to sign the consent form, Barbash claims Nuyorican Productions, STX Entertainment, Gloria Sanchez Productions, and Pole Sisters LLC all continued to tell her story, based on the 2015 New York magazine article, “The Hustlers at Scores.” In 2017, she pled guilty to conspiracy, assault, and grand larceny in exchange for five years’ probation.
Barbash goes on to claim J. Lo’s portrayal of her in the film was “false” and “offensive” due to her character “using and manufacturing illegal substances in her home where she lived with her child,” which Barbash denies ever doing.
“While the amount of accurate factual details presented within the film are sufficient to unequivocally identify JLO’s character as Ms. Barbash, Defendants made statements and created scenes of and concerning Ms. Barbash in a grossly irresponsible manner,” the suit reads.
Barbash is suing for $20 million in compensatory damages and an additional $20 million in punitive damages. She is also asking the court to force producers to turn over copies of the film.
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