Jennifer Lopez’s production company gets $40million suit from woman who inspired Hustlers dismissed

Jennifer Lopez’s production company is off the hook after a federal judge dismissed a suit accusing the producers and filmmakers of Hustlers of exploitation and defamation.

Lopez’s Nuyorican Productions and associates were being sued by Samantha Barbash, a former adult entertainer whose story inspired the movie after her story was told by New York Magazine in 2015, for $40million.

But on Tuesday U.S. District Judge Denise Cote granted a request to dismiss the suit, according to court documents obtained by Entertainment Weekly, getting Lopez’s Nuyorican as well as film distributor STX, Gloria Sanchez Productions, Pole Sisters LLC, and 10 John and Jane Does out of legal limbo.

‘The Defendants’ May 29, 2020 motion to dismiss is granted. The Clerk of Court shall enter judgment for the Defendants and close the case,’ the decision read. 

Barbash filed suit in January, claiming that the film – which followed a gaggle of strippers who conned their wealthy clients out of thousands of dollars – constituted ‘exploitation of her image and defamation of character.’ 

The judge ruled that while the 2019 Lorene Scafaria movie was inspired by an account of Barbash’s involvement with similar events in NY Mag, her ‘name, portrait, picture or voice’ were never used in the film.

Barbash pled guilty to conspiracy, assault, and grand larceny in 2017 for her involvement in the events.

But she contends that the film inaccurately depicts her concocting the drugs used to knock out her rich clients instead of simply using the substances on them. 

Additionally, the court cited Barbash’s media appearances and memoir anchored around the film’s release, made it ‘appropriate to treat Barbash as a limited-purpose public figure’ – meaning her story was up-for-grabs.

Failing to prove an actual malice by the producers, the defamation case was dismissed.

Barbash offered her opinion on the film in a September 2019 interview with Vanity Fair, saying she ‘wasn’t that impressed,’ adding that she is ‘nothing like’ the Lopez’s character Ramona.

The former dancer’s associates did not receive the film with the same disdain. 

Roselyn Keo, who inspired Constance Wu’s character Destiny and was sentenced to five years of probation for her crimes, helped the cast present the film at its world premiere at the 2019 Toronto International Film Festival.

Hustlers grossed $157.6 million worldwide off of a $20.7million budget.

Jennifer Lopez earned a Golden Globe nomination for her portrayal of Ramona. The film was also honored with three nods from the Independent Spirit Awards.