Taylor Hazelwood (left); convicted murderer, Kai McGillvary (right). PETAPEXEL

Man sues Netflix for $1 million for using his photo in murder documentary

A man is suing Netflix for over $1 million (Dh3 million) for using his photo in a true crime documentary involving a killer. He accused the streaming platform of defamation and misappropriation of publicity. Taylor Hazlewood took legal action after his Instagram photo was used in a murder documentary, The Hatched Wielding Hitchhiker. It was a film that centered on Caleb McGilvary’s fame and murder trial. Hazlewood called the act “inappropriate, misleading, and defamatory” when the streaming platform used his photo, which was posted in June 2019, where he was holding a hatchet. It appeared on the show even though he “is not connected, in any way, to Mr. McGilvary or his story.” According to his lawyer, Angela Buchanan, Hazlewood only decided to pose with the hatchet in the photo because it reminded him of his favorite childhood book, Hatchet by Gary Paulsen. She added that the original photo even tagged the aforementioned book and author, “so there should have been no confusion by any company doing its homework when sourcing content.” Netflix, however, is yet to provide a statement on the matter. RZSP/Expat Media
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