Abraham Jewett  |  September 21, 2021

Category: Legal News

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Netflix The Queen's Gambit
(Photo Credit: Benny Marty/Shutterstock)

Netflix Queen’s Gambit Lawsuit Overview: 

  • Who: Female Georgian chess grandmaster Nona Gaprindashvili filed a lawsuit against Netflix. 
  • Why: Gaprindashvili claims she was defamed during a scene in the series finale of the Netflix show “The Queen’s Gambit.”
  • Where: The lawsuit is pending in California Central District Court.

Netflix’s Emmy-nominated series “The Queen’s Gambit,” defamed a female Georgian chess grandmaster during the show’s series finale, a new lawsuit alleges. 

Plaintiff Nona Gaprindashvili claims her name was brought up and false information was said about her career during a scene in the series finale of “The Queen’s Gambit” — a popular Netflix show that revolves around a female chess player who competes against men. 

Gaprindashvili is suing Netflix for $5 million and claims the company “belittled,” her achievements, reports the LA Times

Netflix Queen’s Gambit Accused of ‘Grossly Sexist,’ ‘Belittling’ Statements 

The point of contention occurs during a scene in which the show’s female protagonist, Beth Harmon, is playing a male counterpart in a chess tournament in Russia. During the scene, Gaprindashvili is referenced by name as a commentator compares her achievements to Harmon’s. 

“The only unusual thing about her, really, is her sex. And even that’s not unique in Russia. There’s Nona Gaprindashvili, but she’s the female world champion and has never faced men,” the commentator says, according to the LA Times. 

In her complaint, Gaprindashvili alleges the assertion she never faced male opponents is “manifestly false, as well as being grossly sexist and belittling,” reports the LA Times. 

Gaprindashvili says she had competed against 59 male players — including ten grandmasters, and 28 at once — by 1968, the year in which the series finale of “The Queen’s Gambit” is set, reports the LA Times. 

Gaprindashvili is suing Netflix for invasion of privacy, false light, and defamation, reports the LA Times. In addition to a reward of $5 million, she is asking that the statement that she never competed against men be removed from the series. 

Netflix is also at the center of a class action lawsuit filed last month by a parent of a suicide victim who alleges the streaming service ignored warnings that its show “13 Reasons Why,” would put children in danger

Did you watch Netflix’s Queen’s Gambit? How do you think the show portrayed the female grandmaster? Let us know in the comments! 

The The Queen’s Gambit Lawsuit is Gaprindashvili v. Netflix, Inc., Case No. 2:21-cv-07408, in California Central District Court.


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5 thoughts onNetflix ‘Queen’s Gambit’ Defamed Actual Female Chess Champion During Finale, Lawsuit Claims

  1. Tumeka Sargent-Williams says:

    Add me

  2. Marlon Romero says:

    Add me

  3. Angelica Romero says:

    Add me

  4. Yvette Jones Zanders says:

    I binged watched this series and it was very good. I can recall the scene in which she is referring to and if it did defame the plaintiff then I feel she is entitled to damages.

  5. DENISE MOORE says:

    Add please

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