Jennifer Lopez’s production company has defeated a $40 million lawsuit.
According to legal documents obtained by Entertainment Weekly, former adult entertainer Samantha Barbash claimed the film was based on her life as a scamming stripper. But a U.S. District Court Judge in the Southern District of New York tossed out the case.
“The Defendants’ May 29, 2020 motion to dismiss is granted. The Clerk of Court shall enter judgment for the Defendants and close the case,” read the documents, which were signed Tuesday by U.S. District Judge Denise Cote, according to EW.
The lawsuit was brought on by Barbash in January against Nuyorican Productions, which is owned by Lopez, as well as STX Entertainment, Gloria Sanchez Productions, and Pole Sister, LLC. The suit accuses the defendants of trying to “exploit” Barbash likeness and character in the film Hustlers.
To help her case, the plaintiff says the film producers wanted her to sign a consent waiver in exchange for the movie’s production and its portrayal of her.
Barbash also accused the film of defamation, saying that the character played by Lopez—in reality, Barbash—was filmed “using and manufacturing illegal substances in her home where she lived with her child.”
However, the film is based on a true story that comes from a 2015 New York Magazine article, published as “The Hustlers at Scores,” detailing the lives of New York strippers who had one point in time, drugged wealthy patrons to gain access to their credit cards to run up large bills at the strip club, PEOPLE reports.
The movies grossed $33.2 million last year, going way beyond the expectations of those involved.
Lopez shared the screen with Lizzo, KeKe Palmer, Lili Reinhart, and Julia Stiles. It was a career-high for Lopez and costar Constance Wu. As a result, Lopez received a Golden Globe nomination and Screen Actors Guild award for her star performance.
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