Netflix has officially settled a defamation lawsuit filed by Georgian chess champion Nona Gaprindashvili over the allegedly “sexist” portrayal in “The Queen’s Gambit.”
The viral series starred Anya Taylor-Joy as an orphan chess prodigy. The Emmy-winning show was based on a 1983 novel of the same name and ends with Taylor-Joy’s character Beth Harmon besting male Russian players in the 1960s. Gaprindashvili claimed that the series was defamatory to her own career, citing that the “only unusual thing” about lead character Beth is her gender.
“And even that’s not unique in Russia. There’s Nona Gaprindashvili, but she’s the female world champion and has never faced men,” the suit read, via The Hollywood Reporter. The lawsuit continued that the idea Gaprindashvili “never faced men” in competition is “manifestly false, as well as being grossly sexist and belittling.”
By 1968, when the episode in question is set, she had competed against 59 male chess players,...
The viral series starred Anya Taylor-Joy as an orphan chess prodigy. The Emmy-winning show was based on a 1983 novel of the same name and ends with Taylor-Joy’s character Beth Harmon besting male Russian players in the 1960s. Gaprindashvili claimed that the series was defamatory to her own career, citing that the “only unusual thing” about lead character Beth is her gender.
“And even that’s not unique in Russia. There’s Nona Gaprindashvili, but she’s the female world champion and has never faced men,” the suit read, via The Hollywood Reporter. The lawsuit continued that the idea Gaprindashvili “never faced men” in competition is “manifestly false, as well as being grossly sexist and belittling.”
By 1968, when the episode in question is set, she had competed against 59 male chess players,...
- 9/7/2022
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
Click here to read the full article.
A legal duel between Netflix and Nona Gaprindashvili, a Georgian chess champion in the 1970s who says she was defamed in an episode of The Queen’s Gambit, has ended in a stalemate. The two sides on Monday informed the court they’ve reached a deal.
The Emmy-winning series, based on a 1983 novel of the same name, chronicles the rise of orphan Beth Harmon (Anya Taylor-Joy) to the top of the chess world. The show culminates in Harmon beating Russia’s best players in the 1960s at a renowned chess tournament.
But Gaprindashvili took issue with a fictional chess commentator’s line in the series finale that she alleged defamed her. The commentator says about Harmon: “The only unusual thing about her, really, is her sex. And even that’s not unique in Russia. There’s Nona Gaprindashvili, but she’s the female world...
A legal duel between Netflix and Nona Gaprindashvili, a Georgian chess champion in the 1970s who says she was defamed in an episode of The Queen’s Gambit, has ended in a stalemate. The two sides on Monday informed the court they’ve reached a deal.
The Emmy-winning series, based on a 1983 novel of the same name, chronicles the rise of orphan Beth Harmon (Anya Taylor-Joy) to the top of the chess world. The show culminates in Harmon beating Russia’s best players in the 1960s at a renowned chess tournament.
But Gaprindashvili took issue with a fictional chess commentator’s line in the series finale that she alleged defamed her. The commentator says about Harmon: “The only unusual thing about her, really, is her sex. And even that’s not unique in Russia. There’s Nona Gaprindashvili, but she’s the female world...
- 9/6/2022
- by Winston Cho
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Netflix has agreed to settle a lawsuit filed by a Georgian chess master who alleged that she was defamed in an episode of “The Queen’s Gambit.”
Nona Gaprindashvili argued that her accomplishments were disparaged when a chess announcer in the Netflix series wrongly stated that she had “never faced men.” In fact, Gaprindashvili had faced 59 male competitors by 1968, the year in which the series was set.
Netflix had tried to have the lawsuit dismissed, claiming that the show’s creators had broad license under the First Amendment. But in January a federal judge rejected that argument, holding that fictional works are not immune from lawsuits if they defame real people.
Netflix appealed the ruling to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, but on Tuesday the case was dismissed.
“The parties are pleased that the matter has been resolved,” said attorney Alexander Rufus-Isaacs, who represented Gaprindashvili.
The terms of the settlement were not disclosed.
Nona Gaprindashvili argued that her accomplishments were disparaged when a chess announcer in the Netflix series wrongly stated that she had “never faced men.” In fact, Gaprindashvili had faced 59 male competitors by 1968, the year in which the series was set.
Netflix had tried to have the lawsuit dismissed, claiming that the show’s creators had broad license under the First Amendment. But in January a federal judge rejected that argument, holding that fictional works are not immune from lawsuits if they defame real people.
Netflix appealed the ruling to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, but on Tuesday the case was dismissed.
“The parties are pleased that the matter has been resolved,” said attorney Alexander Rufus-Isaacs, who represented Gaprindashvili.
The terms of the settlement were not disclosed.
- 9/6/2022
- by Gene Maddaus
- Variety Film + TV
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