Fox 29 Host Sues Facebook and Reddit Over Misuse of Photo
Karen Hepp, the co-anchor of the network's popular "Good Day Philadelphia" morning show, filed her lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania on Wednesday. In her complaint, Hepp demanded $10 million and the immediate removal of her picture from the websites.
September 06, 2019 at 04:26 PM
2 minute read
Fox 29 news anchor Karen Hepp has sued Facebook, Reddit and other websites claiming that her picture appeared in dating website and erectile dysfunction advertisements without her consent.
Hepp, the co-anchor of the network's popular "Good Day Philadelphia" morning show, filed her lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania on Wednesday. In her complaint, Hepp demanded $10 million and the immediate removal of her picture from the websites.
According to Hepp's complaint, the image in question was surreptitiously taken by a convenience store security camera in New York City approximately two years ago. Hepp claims to not remember the exact name and location of the business or how the picture was disseminated.
Since then, the picture has appeared on ads offering the ability to "meet and chat with single women," including one advertisement in which Hepp appeared under the heading "milf."
Hepp became aware of the use of her image without permission when her Fox 29 co-workers alerted her.
In one instance, "The photo was modified and featured on Giphy wherein a video appears in the background of a man—who is hiding behind a glass commercial freezer door and masturbating —to what would appear to be from his perspective the backside of the plaintiff," the complaint said.
The lawsuit claims that Hepp's picture also appeared on a pornographic website.
Hepp's claims were filed under Pennsylvania's "right of publicity" statute. She claimed that as a result of the distribution of the picture, she has suffered irreparable harm.
"Plaintiff's image is instantly identifiable and automatically associated with her professional persona," the complaint said. "Defendants' sexualization of plaintiff's image and use for prurient and illicit purposes is abhorrent and disgusting."
Hepp is represented by Samuel Fineman of Cohen Fineman in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, who declined to comment. The defendants did not respond to requests for comment on Friday.
Hepp is a native of the Philadelphia area and has worked at Fox 29 for nearly a decade.
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