Bitter Model Sues Universal Over ‘Couples’ Photo

Former model Irina Krupnik is suing Universal Pictures after a decade old image was used for comedic effect in Couples Retreat. Krupnik, now a successful makeup artist, contends she was disgusted when clients recognized her from a scene in which actor Jon Favreau tries to masturbate to a photo of her in a bikini. The suit accuses NBC Universal and Universal Pictures Co. of soiling her “wholesome image” and violating her privacy with the “tawdry” and “shocking” use of the photo.

Jon Favreau in Couples Retreat

“The image of an older married man pleasuring himself to the picture of someone who was closer to the age of a child is disgusting,” said lawyer Thomas Mullaney, who is representing Krupnik in the $10 million suit. “It was a swimsuit ad, not pornography. She was shocked; she was mad as hell,” Mullaney said.

Krupnik was 21 when she donned a bikini for a February 2001 modeling shoot in the Bahamas, then signed a release allowing commercial use of the image through stock photo agencies. The photo is used in one of the funnier scenes in the movie as hyper-sexual character played by Favreau sees the photo and tries to release some tension.

One might be a bit sympathetic that Krupnik’s photo was used in a major motion picture without compensation. However, the comments from her and her “lawyer” are beyond unreasonable (my emphasis below).

“If you’re a good-looking young woman, you don’t want anyone leering at you or fondling you. If someone did in Central Park what they showed in ‘Couples Retreat,’ they would be thrown in jail. These were pictures she took nearly 10 years ago. In no way at all did she even remotely expect them to turn up in some raunchy movie scene. At the very least, common decency means you should ask somebody before you put them into a scene that’s essentially pornography,” Mullaney said.

Krupnik says she had no idea her picture would be used as an X-rated prop for the “purposely unattractive male” played by Favreau in the Vince Vaughn vehicle. “The actor John Favreau, playing a character a least twice the age of Ms. Krupnik in the photo, waits until his wife leaves their hotel room before lifting his sleeveless T-shirt over his prominent belly,” the lawsuit noted. “He then liberally lubricated himself while leering at the image of the youthful Ms. Krupnik on a beach, a scenario apparently intended to be humorous.”

Irina Krupnik (left)

It’s true that Favreau is currently 43 years old, which is more or less twice the age of the model at the time of photography. That said, does this former swimsuit model think Favreau’s character is the first to, you know, enjoy he sexy photos? And anyone who has seen the film knows that there is no way this scene could be considered pornographic; Favreau doesn’t even touch his genitals. Also, you’d think that if you were humiliated by the scene that you wouldn’t get your New York lawyer to play up the story in the press.

Krupnik will get no sympathy from this website.

This entry was posted on Saturday, March 13th, 2010 at 3:54 pm and is filed under Couples Retreat, Jon Favreau. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.