Photographer Faces Boycott, Outrage Over His Threats To Sue For Photo Of Murdered Girl
Posted on Feb 19, 2011 @ 01:50AM
A photographer threatening to sue media outlets for running his photograph of Christina-Taylor Green, the little girl murdered in the rampage where Arizona Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords was shot, is facing a massive backlash and calls for a boycott.
Jon Wolf’s actions have enraged so many people that a Facebook page has been started to boycott his business after he hired a lawyer and threatened to sue and collect big money from media outlets running a photograph of nine-year-old shooting victim Christina-Taylor Green.
PHOTOS: Celebs Who Have Done Jail Time
RadarOnline.com has confirmed that Wolf’s attorney contacted numerous media outlets trying to collect money for the photograph after sending a legal letter. RadarOnline.com has obtained a copy of the legal letter, written by Edward C. Greenberg, a New York lawyer. The letter claims Wolf will sue within seven days and demands the media outlet preserve an extensive list of documents
The Facebook page created to boycott Wolf is growing and now has 1,142 member as of Friday morning. Much outrage is be expressed against Wolf, including one person calling him a “putz” and another writing: “If I wasn’t a Christian, I’d curse you out.”
Another person captured the prevailing anger, writing:” A little girl is lying in her grave, and this photographer is concerned with licensing, fees and copyright issues. Shame on you, Jon Wolf.”
Wolf is now quickly backpedalling. He offered an apology on his blog and said his actions had been misunderstood. He claimed: “At no time did I intend to profit personally from this tragedy.”
PHOTOS: Celebs Involved With Murder
His earlier statement that he was donating a “portion” of the proceeds, and his lawyer’s actions contacting various media companies, however, have left a large number of people not believing that statement.
Wolf not only has the public furious at him, but Green’s family is also angry and issued a statement condemning his actions.
PHOTOS: Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords With Her Family
What’s more, a charity that Wolf said was going to get a “portion” of his earnings has now told him to keep his money – they want nothing to do with him.
The little girl was murdered in Jared Loughner’s rampage where Giffords was shot. In the aftermath, Green’s family gave a local newspaper a framed photograph of the child and eventually that photo was run by numerous national outlets to illustrate the face of the horrible tragedy.
But Wolf then attempted to cash in because he owned the copyright to the photo. He hired a lawyer, and according to the newspaper chain Gannett Company he demanded $125,000 from them.
PHOTOS: The 6 People Killed in Arizona Shooting
Gannett agreed to pay a regular licensing fee but refuses to shell out the big bucks Wolf sought.
In the legal letter seen by RadarOnline.com, Wolf is cc’d by his lawyer, who writes: “You have employed our client’s image without his permission…we intend to institute suit against your company and any other appropriate defendants.” The lawyer then says the matter can be resolved without a lawsuit and gives the media company seven days to comply with an extensive list of demands. RadarOnline.com confirmed that Wolf, through his attorney, sought payment for the photograph which was used as a very small image in an article about the tragedy.
Tucson, Arizona children’s charity Tu Nidito was told by Wolf that he would donate a portion of his profits to them. Liz McCusker, the executive director of the charity, did not know Wolf was intending to sue outlets when he made his donation offer. When McCusker found out, she told him she didn’t want the money.
PHOTOS: Stars Who Died In Bizarre Ways
She said the charity “did not want to be associated with that kind of action,” according to AZcentral.com.
Green’s parents apparently signed a release form for Wolf within three days after the death of their daughter but say they didn’t understand his intentions, and they are furious at him.
PHOTOS: Celebrity Death Threats
“It’s not right. People are angry at him and they should be,” said John Green, the father of the murdered child.
The family released a statement saying Wolf’s action showed poor tasted, especially while they are still grieving, according to the Web report.
Wolf’s lawyer issued an angry statement to a Tucson Televison station claiming that Wolf was going to turn over ALL of the proceeds. He wrote that BIG corporations had benefited by his client’s photograph, using this strident language:
"First off, your viewers/readers ought to have been informed that such behemoth corporations such as The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Post, NY Daily News, The Washington Post, Time Magazine, The LA Times and Fox News among countless other photographers and companies have earned substantial fees and benefited mightily for themselves as a result of their illegally infringing upon Mr. Wolf's Constitutionally protected right to his registered copyright."
PHOTOS: Sexy Stars Who Have Been Arrested
He also admitted that he has collected fees and said Wolf had the full support of the victim’s family – a statement that clearly is no longer true since the family issued a statement condemning him.
RELATED STORIES:
A&E Sued By Family Of Young Girl Shot And Killed On Reality Show
EXCLUSIVE COURT DOCUMENTS: Leighton Meester's Mom 'Threatened To Kill Me', Says Actress' Pal
VIDEO: 'Classy' NY Congressman Resigns After Sending Shirtless Photo To Woman On Craigslist
Rep. Gabrielle Giffords Upgraded From Serious To Good
VIDEO: Miracle Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords Smiles & Recognizes Me, Says Hubby
- Beyonce's Returning To The Stage For The First Time Since Becoming A Mom — Huffington Post
- Sienna Miller & Her Baby Bump Are All Smiles — The Frisky
- Jay-Z To Score New "Annie" Movie Starring Willow Smith — Global Grind
- Simon Cowell Asks 'What Was I Thinking?' After Choosing Britney Spears & Demi Lovato for 'X Factor' — Celebuzz
- Anne Hathaway's Ex Raffaello Follieri Released from Jail — Just Jared
- Age Appropriate? Kylie Minogue, 43, Dons Racy Webbed Dress — Celebuzz
- Click Here & Join Our Facebook Page — Facebook
Sample Header
The Daily Juice
May 25, 2012 @ 17:00
Hypocrisy because everyone who looked at the picture was able to only because this guy was there at the time! It's the media who used his picture without paying for it that he's suing, it's the media making a big deal over it, not him!!
Posted Sat, 02/19/2011 - 11:42pm
I don't condone the paps actions, but we promote this sick sort of reporting by reading it and looking for it in a 24/7 news world! Boycotting him because he asked to be paid for his photo is ludicrous and the height of hypocrisy!
Posted Sat, 02/19/2011 - 11:39pm
All paps expect to get paid for their photo's, the only reason there's such an outcry is because the picture is of a young girl murdered, if he'd got the photo of the Congress woman his picture would have been worth a hell of a lot more!
Posted Sat, 02/19/2011 - 11:37pm
Though it's tacky sounding, it was his photo and the media had no right to run it without paying for it or his permission! There were paps taking pictures of Princess Di and Dodi while they lay dying, rather than helping them!
Posted Sat, 02/19/2011 - 11:35pm
Um... hold on. It's not like the media companies are completely innocent. Every single media outlet that ran a copy of that photo profited from this girls death. You can't villainize this dude, and totally let the media companies of the hook.
Posted Sat, 02/19/2011 - 3:30pm
He's a pathetic LOSER! Only a real jerk would pull crap like that! HE HAS TOLD THE WORLD THAT HE LACKS ALL MORAL CHARACTER AND IS NOTHING BUT TRAILER TRASH.
Posted Sat, 02/19/2011 - 12:10pm
What an azz hat!
Posted Fri, 02/18/2011 - 4:03pm
Goodness, he contacted the bereaved parents three days after their daughter died so he could procure the right to sue over use of an old photo of their just-murdered child? What a greedy ghoul.
Posted Fri, 02/18/2011 - 3:53pm
Wow. He waited a three whole days to strike? This dude is done.
Posted Fri, 02/18/2011 - 3:20pm