After photobombing celebrity red carpet pictures at the Golden Globes turned Kelleth Cuthbert into the viral meme known as ‘Fiji Water Girl’, she enjoyed her 15-minutes of fame.
Her face was everywhere, she landed spots on big talkshows, an acting gig and a slew of new Instagram followers. Becoming a meme provided a fluke career boost that would not have been possible if she had not been on that red carpet serving up Fiji Water (and looks).
Serving water? Oh honey, miss thing is serving ?????! ? No one is working harder at the #GoldenGlobes than the Fiji water girl. ?? pic.twitter.com/oAtyhKqv63
— Entertainment Tonight (@etnow) January 7, 2019
But Kelleth – whose real name is apparently Kelly Steinbach?!?! – is now coming after Fiji Water for also taking advantage of her 15 minutes of fame without paying up.
According to The Blast, Cuthbert/Steinbach just sued the Fiji Water Company and The Wonderful Company, alleging they created an unauthorised marketing campaign based off the viral sensation she became at the Golden Globes.
Apparently Cuthbert claims that on January 7 Fiji Water “intentionally created cardboard cutouts of Steinbach for use in a cardboard cutout marketing campaign.” That is a single day after the Globes.
The problem is that this campaign allegedly went live without Cuthbert’s permission. According to the documents, the suit claims that on January 8, Fiji tried to negotiate an agreement with the model’s agent.
But the next day Cuthbert was alerted to the existence of a cardboard cutout placed in a Bristol Farms in West Hollywood. It was captured in a paparazzi shot of John Legend leaving the store.
FIJI Water Girl Just Photobombed John Legend Without Even Being There! | John Legend, Kelleth Cuthbert https://t.co/AhKgdjvLa9 草。
— こわもて[verse 2] (@kowamote222) January 14, 2019
Cuthbert claims that on January 8, Fiji Water capitalised on her Golden Globes viral fame to sell the product. The documents obtained by The Blast claim Fiji tried to offer “gifts to entice” the model to sign away her rights.
The suit also claims Fiji “pressured Steinbach into video recording a fake signing of a fake document to simulate Steinbach signing on as a Fiji Water Ambassador.” According to her legal team, the document was not an agreement and was later destroyed by the model.
The documents claim that Fiji was aware no agreement existed but regardless, proceeded to use Steinbach’s image and likeness for profit.
Is Jewel for real with this cardboard cutout of the Fiji water girl?? pic.twitter.com/p5wPt7VqkT
— fauxcahontas (@liztaylor526) January 11, 2019
Basically Steinbach/Cuthbert wants the company to stop using the cardboard cutouts of her right now, and pay up the monetary damages.