Model sues jewelry company for suggestive ad
January 07, 2008

New York—A model has filed a $5 million lawsuit against a jewelry company, claiming the video advertisement she starred in tarnished her wholesome image by depicting her in a pornographic way.

The case was filed last Monday in Manhattan’s state Supreme Court, according to The Associated Press.

The Szul Jewelry Internet advertisement, titled “Rock Her World,” shows the woman in lingerie and a diamond necklace moaning and stroking herself. The segment ends with the Web address, Szul.com, flashing across the screen. Q2 Entertainment shot the commercial, the AP report says.

The 37-year-old plantiff, identified as Jane Doe in court papers, says she did not “consent to or authorize the use of her likeness, picture, image or name to simulate a female having an orgasm or otherwise experiencing sexual pleasure,” according to the AP. The plaintiff further contends that three-quarters of the commercial contained a comedic story line with the premise that an average guy can get a woman excited by placing a necklace on her, says the news source. The woman claims she was later told to sit and feign excitement for a few seconds while the man put the necklace on her, the lawsuit reportedly says.

The woman who filed the suit is asking for $2.5 in compensatory damages and $2.5 million in punitive damages.

The lawsuit identifies Szul Jewelery, Q2 Entertainment and Q2 principal Mitchell Goldman as defendants. Neither of the companies immediately returned phone calls from National Jeweler seeking comment.