The story of drifter Caleb “Kai” McGillvary shocked the world. A homeless man first became famous when he saved a strange woman from a brutal attacker, and then came under fire for committing a crime. His path from celebrity to criminal was shown in the documentary “Hitchhiker with an Axe”, which debuted at the library in early 2023. The production quickly gained viewers’ interest, but only a few weeks later it was only talked about in the context of the scandal. What happened?
Netflix used his image in the film. He decided to take it to court
It all started when the creators illegally used a photo of a man posing with an axe, or at least that’s what Taylor Hazlewood from Kentucky, who was in the photo, claimed. The 27-year-old’s image was even juxtaposed with the criminal to whom the plot was dedicated, and embellished with the slogan “stone-cold killer”. As Variety reported at the time, the man decided to pursue his rights in court and on April 10, 2023, in Dallas County, Texas, he filed a motion for infringement of personal rights.
In his justification, he explained that the photo in question was taken in 2019, and that the inspiration was not McGillvary, but the hero of the book “Hatchet” by Gary Paulsen. He then added it to his private Instagram profile, from where the filmmakers allegedly downloaded it, without first asking him for permission to use the image.
Later in the movie, something not so good happens. Your photo resurfaces after he is charged with murder. This looks bad.
They posted a photo of you with the murderer. They blurred some of the people’s faces in the documentary, I don’t understand why they didn’t do the same with yours
– in the lawsuit he quoted messages he received from his relatives after the premiere of “The Hitchhiker”.
Netflix under fire after the premiere of “The Hitchhiker with an Axe”. This is what the 27-year-old demanded as compensation
Hazlewood reportedly tried to reach an agreement amicably, but after no response from the side, he decided to take legal action. He demanded as much as one million dollars in compensation from the website for violating his personal rights. He justified his claims by saying that his image and reputation had been damaged, and the whole situation was extremely stressful for him and made him worry about the future. – Netflix or anyone involved in the making of the film never contacted Mr. Hazelwood regarding the original context and planned use of his photo – explained lawyer Angela Buchanan, representing him, in an interview with Variety.
She emphasized that the filmmakers had not only tarnished his good name, but had also broken the law. “Due to the lack of due diligence on the part of those who used Mr. Hazelwood’s photo and put him next to a convicted murderer, Mr. Hazelwood continues to fear the impact the film will have on his personal life, his employment, and his overall reputation,” she added. It was not known for a long time how the case would pan out. However, according to the latest reports from foreign portals, the court found no fault on Netflix’s part and Hazelwood’s lawsuit was ultimately dismissed. If you feel like it, vote in our poll below.
Source: Gazeta
Bruce is a talented author and journalist with a passion for entertainment . He currently works as a writer at the 247 News Agency, where he has established himself as a respected voice in the industry.
