In case you thought memes of a model accidentally photobombing celebrities could be enjoyed entirely without complications, be prepared to have some cold Fiji water poured on that idea.
Kelly Steinbach, the model who became a meme last month after showing up in tons of pictures on the Golden Globes red carpet while carrying bottles of Fiji water, is suing Fiji Water. Steinbach, according to The Hollywood Reporter, says the company did not obtain permission to create cardboard cutouts of her for an ad campaign it launched after the Globes to cash in on the phenomenon.
If a lawsuit sparked by an awards show meme wasn't already strange enough, it gets weirder: Steinbach claims that Fiji Water "pressured" her into signing a fake document on camera in order to "simulate Steinbach signing on as a Fiji Water Ambassador," only for Fiji to say she had actually signed on in reality, Deadline reports. Steinbach says she destroyed this fake document and that no one from Fiji signed it.
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Fiji is pushing back on these claims, though, saying that "we negotiated a generous agreement with Ms. [Steinbach] that she blatantly violated." Steinbach is seeking damages, but Fiji says it is "confident that we will prevail in court." Presumably, Aaron Sorkin is paying close attention to this story and is ready to turn it into the next great Golden Globe-nominated legal drama.
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