So get this: a Detroit woman is suing the creator of “Empire” because she says Lee Daniels copied her life story including having a gay family member; and is now suing for $300k!
WAYMENT!! It’s like everyone one wants a piece of the empire !
Her name is Sophia Eggleston and she alleges that Cookie’s character is almost a carbon copy of herself. “Cookie was a drug kingpin that went to jail. So did plaintiff Eggleston. Cookie is released from jail confinement and immediately places a hit on a certain individual. Plaintiff . . . actually was jailed for doing the actual hit on a man.”
So here’s what [she says] happened:
Back in 2011 she flew out to LA to meet with a screenwriter, Rita Miller. She gave her a book entitled “The Hidden Hand” a story describing her lifestyle as a drug dealer. The meeting later resulted in a call from Miller some months later stating that she had plans of pitching Eggleston’s story to Lee Daniels.
Fast forward 4 years, in 2015, Empire premiered and Eggleston noticed a lot of “similar behavior, background, and style of dress” between herself and Taraji’s character.
UH-OH!
Eggleston’s copyright suit said she was, “dismayed to see he various similarities of events and characters … So numerous and specific, especially … Cookie Lyon, that independent creation was obviously impossible.” And hunny Sophia ain’t here for the alleged stolen identity stating that , “there is no possibility the similarities are … Mere coincidence.”
Lee Daniels, Co-creator and writer, Danny Strong, and Fox reps were named in the suit but declined to comment.
Eggleston, who has been jailed twice, busted for drugs and, according to the FBI, was charged last year with Medicare fraud, says it wasn’t until the city was telling her of the similarities that a red flag went up.
“The whole city’s been telling me Cookie is basically me. Any jury would rule for me — $300 million is a very small price for taking my whole life and stealing it.” She said.
Currently working as a home aid for the elderly, Egglestom is reportedly is representing herself in court.
Let’s chat below!
Source: TMZ, http://m.tmz.com/#
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p style=”margin: 10px 0px; text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress; padding: 0px;”>TSR intern: Chantel P. Instagram: @_POPchanny | Twitter: @POPchanny
