Netflix struck a deal with chess player Nona Gaprindashvili after she was sued for $ 5 million for a line from “The Queen’s Gambit” series. The terms of the agreement, finalized on Tuesday (6/9), a year after the start of the trial, were not disclosed.
Gaprindashvili, who was one of the world’s greatest chess champions in the 1970s, accused the series of presenting false information in a “sexist and contemptuous” tone about her career.
Winner of 11 Emmy Awards, “The Queen’s Gambit” tells the story of fictional chess player Beth Harmon (Anya Taylor-Joy), an orphan who ultimately defeats top Russian masters in the 1960s, during the height of the Cold War. .
In the final episode of the production, a chess commentator’s line mentions Gaprindashvili when he compares her to the fictional character. “The only unusual thing about her [Harmon], really, it’s its kind. And this too is not exclusive to Russia. There is Nona Gaprindashvili, but she is the women’s world champion and she has never faced men. “
According to the lawsuit filed by the Georgian chess player, “the accusation that Gaprindashvili ‘never confronted men’ is manifestly false, as well as being highly disgusting, sexist and contemptuous”. He states that by 1968, when the episode took place, he had already competed with at least 59 male chess players, including 10 Grandmasters.
“Netflix has blatantly lied about Gaprindashvili’s achievements with the economic and cynical aim of ‘elevating the drama’ by making it seem like their fictional hero has managed to do what no other woman, including Gaprindashvili, has done,” the cause said. of the chess player. she also complained of a second further problem: the nationality assigned to her, in the series.
“Adding insult to injury, Netflix still described Gaprindashvili as Russian, even though she is Georgian, and that Georgians suffered under Russian rule when they were part of the Soviet Union, and have since been attacked and invaded by Russia.” action of the former champion.
In his lawsuit, Gaprindashvili asked for a minimum compensation of $ 5 million and demanded that the line be removed from the series.
Speaking in a US press release at the time of the lawsuit, the streaming platform said, “Netflix has the utmost respect for Ms. Gaprindashvili and her illustrious career, but we believe this complaint is without merit and we will defend this position vigorously.”
Netflix, in fact, tried to stop the case in court, claiming freedom of expression. But in January, a federal judge dismissed that argument, holding that works of fiction are not immune from legal action if they defame real people.
Netflix appealed the decision to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, but the case was closed on Tuesday.
“The parties are satisfied that the matter has been resolved,” attorney Alexander Rufus-Isaacs, who represented Gaprindashvili, told reporters.
A spokesperson for Netflix also said: “We are delighted that this has been resolved.”
Nothing else has been added. But it’s worth checking in the next few days if the controversial talk continues in the series.
Source: Terra
Emily Jhon is a product and service reviewer at Gossipify, known for her honest evaluations and thorough analysis. With a background in marketing and consumer research, she offers valuable insights to readers. She has been writing for Gossipify for several years and has a degree in Marketing and Consumer Research from the University of Oxford.
