Well-known U.S. celebrity photographer David LaChapelle is suing Rihanna, claiming the creative vision and concept for her "S&M" video has been "directly derived" from his work.
LaChapelle has alleged Rihanna copied the "composition, total concept, feel, tone, mood, theme, colors, props, settings, decors, wardrobe and lighting" used in one of his previous Vogue Italia shoots.
In the raunchy "S&M" video, Ri Ri wears bondage gear, stimulates sex with a blow-up doll, sucks on a banana, and leads Perez Hilton around on a dog's leash. When the video was released, it was immediately banned in 11 Southern Asian countries.
LaChapelle specialises in fashion, fine art and advertising photography, and has a star-studded photography folio featuring the likes of Whitney Houston, Marilyn Manson, Pamela Anderson, David Bowie, Lady Gaga and Rihanna.
LaChapelle is reportedly suing for unspecified damages.
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