Paparazzi Agency Files for Bankruptcy Amid Meghan Markle Legal Fight

Splash News and Picture Agency filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on Tuesday (March 23) claiming the coronavirus pandemic and “two ongoing litigation cases” – one of which involves Meghan Markle as the source.

The complaint over pictures snapped during a “private family outing” in Canada was settled in 2020, however, Splash News has not be able.to financially recover.

“The claims are disputed but unfortunately ongoing attorney bills have drained, and continue to drain, cash from the business,” Emma Curzon, the agency’s president noted in the filing. “Splash is unable to continue with the financial burden to defend these claims … As a consequence of the global pandemic the availability of celebrity images has declined and budgets within media companies have been cut to reflect wider macro-economic challenge.”

The other case sees Splash News beinh sued by a former employee who was “subjected to sexist remarks” while at the company and was wrongfully terminated. 

“This situation has been exacerbated by two ongoing litigation cases and the costs of defending these cases. These cases are in the United Kingdom and United States …” Curzon continued. “The plaintiffs in the United Kingdom litigation … are seeking various forms of injunctive relief. The case involves free speech related issues under United Kingdom law and, unfortunately, has proven to be too unbearably expensive for Splash to continue its defense.”