Oksana Baiul Sues NBC For $5 Million, Claiming Likeness Used Without Her Permission

Oksana Baiul has sued NBC Universal and the producer of a television skating program claiming that her name and likeness were used to advertise a show that she never signed on for.

The suit against NBC Universal and Disson Skating LLC claims that they offered Baiul a deal to perform in two shows that would later air on the network. She turned it down without receiving a contract or signing a promotional deal, The Associated Press reported.

But Baiul says that the show used her name and likeness anyway for advertisements on two radio websites. Her name also appeared in a press release for the show, Oksana Baiul claims in her lawsuit.

Because she never showed up, Baiul said she was wrongly labelled as a “no show,” and this mark on her reputation made it more difficult to get work.

This is not the first time Oksana Baiul sues to protect her reputation. The Ukranian skater recently brought a suit against the William Morris Endeavor talent agency claiming that the company took advantage of her poor English skills to swindle her out of millions of dollars. Baiul, who signed on to WME at age 16, claimed that the agency owed her money that it was withholding.

Baiul discovered the discrepancies at WME in 2001, when she hired Carlo Farina to manager her finances. Farina discovered the alleged accounting and collection discrepancies, allowing Oksana to collect $9.5 million. She still believes there is more missing, the lawsuit claims.

In the most recent legal action, Oksana Baiul sues NBC seeking $5 million in damages.