Surya Bonaly, Olympic figure skater, announced on May 20 that she has obtained a preliminary injunction against ProNet Enterprises for falsely advertising to have possession of "Surya Bonaly Naked Pictures." The injunction prohibits the pornographic Website from using any method to publish or disseminate the name or likeness of Bonaly.
Bonaly filed the case in April, stating that ProNet had posted a banner on their Website claiming to have nude photos of her. The suit says the claims of possessing nude photos of Bonaly are false, misleading and defamatory because Bonaly has never posed nude for pictures of any type.
"This really makes me angry. Who do these people think they are? I hope this lawsuit sends a message that you can't just print blatant lies about people and get away with it. I personally think it's time for celebrities to take a stand against this kind of junk."
Bonaly was also strongly opposed to having Internet users, who clicked on the banner "Surya Bonaly Naked Pictures," being taken to sexually explicit Websites. She is outraged and doesn't want to have her name used in connection with any pornographic Website.
"It is outrageous for anyone to take Surya Bonaly and her sterling reputation and drag her into the mud. Just being an Olympic figure skater with an unblemished reputation for honesty and integrity, Surya is a role model for kids everywhere. The fact that she is the preeminent black figure skater in the world only adds to the importance of her quality position as a role model for literally thousands. For someone to take Surya's name and try to sell pornography is simply unconscionable."
