NEWS - Sunday, March 28, 2004
Lingerie Model Sues Video Game Maker
Lingerie model sues to save reputation Star of Miller Lite’s ’Catfight Girls’ TV commercials at odds with videogame maker. LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Kitana Baker, the raven-haired model in the "Catfight Girls" TV ads for Miller Lite beer has sued a Los Angeles company she says ruined her reputation by depicting her as a wrestler in "offensive" video games. The Playboy Lingerie Model of the Year claims that Backyard Wrestling Inc. tricked her into signing an open-ended talent release when she appeared in a 2002 video and then used her image to plug hard core products, according to a lawsuit filed on Monday. Backyard Wrestling says on its Web site that it principally produces videos that "highlight the most outrageous, violent, shocking and sexy footage from real backyard wrestling matches all across America." The company could not immediately be reached for comment. Baker said she agreed to perform a "Playboy style" striptease for a "Backyard Wrestling Babes" video but "would not under any circumstances ... engage in any wrestling," the lawsuit said. "Ms. Baker was further told that the entire video was going to be done in a high-class manner and would not be in any way graphic," the lawsuit said. Baker became famous as one of two statuesque beauties who slap, strip and wrestle in a fountain and a vat of mud over whether Miller Lite beer "tastes great" or is "less filling." Saying she was outraged over Backyard Wrestling’s using her likeness in X-rated video games, Baker asked a judge to award her $1 million in damages and to stop the company from featuring her in an upcoming sequel.Source: http://money.cnn.com
