Courtney Love, Frances Bean Step Up Fight to Block Release of Kurt Cobain Suicide Photos

The widow and daughter of deceased grunge icon Kurt Cobain have accelerated their efforts to block the release of photos depicting Cobain’s 1994 suicide, contending that their release would be “highly offensive” and would cause “substantial irreparable harm” to Love and Frances Bean.

In court papers obtained by TheWrap, Cobain and Frances Bean also contend that the release of the photos to conspiracy theorist Richard Lee, who asserts that Cobain did not commit suicide, is “not of legitimate concern to the public.”

“There is no genuine issue of material fact that releasing the ‘death-scene’ photographs of Kurt Cobain would sustainably and irreparably damage any person, in particular Courtney Love Cobain and Frances Bean Cobain,” the court papers contend.

Also Read: Frances Bean Cobain Ordered to Pay $12,000 a Month in Spousal Support

The filing is part of a long battle to prevent the release of the death-scene photos. Lee initially sued the city of Seattle and the Seattle Police department after they refused to produce “death scene” photos of Cobain’s suicide. His suit was dismissed, and Love and Frances Bean obtained an order permanently enjoining the release of the photos. Lee subsequently appealed the decision in 2015, leading to a new round of filings.

“Most people who have to endure such a personal tragedy are allowed to do so in private but not Courtney Love Cobain or Frances Bean Cobain, due to … ‘the viral nature of the internet,'” the filing reads.

Frances Bean Cobain was not yet two years old when her father died, and Love was 25.

Also Read: Courtney Love: 'I Was Banned by CAA for Speaking Out Against Harvey Weinstein'

In a previous filing, Love stated that Lee had “stalked and harassed me, my family for man, many years,” in one instance filming himself chasing a limo that he thought she was traveling in.

“Mr. Lee’s actions make me fear for my safety,” Love said in a declaration.

The filing also states that Lee was arrested in January 2005 on two felony counts of stalking Love.

27 Club: Stars Who Died at Age 27, From Jimi Hendrix to Amy Winehouse (Photos)

Artists like Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison and Amy Winehouse all died before they reached 28.
Robert Johnson (May 8, 1911 - August 16, 1938)

The American blues legend made the Mississippi Delta style famous, but his premature death near Greenwood, Mississippi, remains as mysterious as much of his short life.
Rudy Lewis (August 23, 1936 – May 20, 1964)

The R&B singer for the Drifters sang lead on such hits as "Some Kind of Wonderful," "Up On The Roof" and "On Broadway." He was found dead in a Harlem hotel room of a suspected drug overdose.
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Brian Jones (February 28, 1942 – July 3, 1969)

The founder and original leader of the Rolling Stones drowned in the swimming pool of his home in East Sussex, England.
Jimi Hendrix (November 27, 1942 – September 18, 1970)

The rock guitarist died in London of asphyxiation while intoxicated on barbituates.
Janis Joplin (January 19, 1943 – October 4, 1970)

The blues singer died of a heroin overdose at the Landmark Motor Hotel in Hollywood.
Jim Morrison (December 8, 1943 - July 3, 1971)

The singer, songwriter and frontman for The Doors was found in the bathtub of a Paris apartment, apparently from an accidental heroin overdose.
Ron "Pigpen" McKernan (September 8, 1945 – March 8, 1973)

A founding member of the Grateful Dead, McKiernan died of a gastrointestinal hemorrhage at his home in Corte Madera, California.
Jean-Michel Basquiat (December 22, 1960 – August 12, 1988)

The American graphic artist famous for graffiti-inspired paintings died of a heroin overdose in his Manhattan studio.
Reggie Lewis (November 21, 1965 – July 27, 1993)

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Kurt Cobain (February 20, 1967 – April 5, 1994)

The singer-songwriter and frontman for the grunge band Nirvana died of a self-inflicted shotgun wound to the head.
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Richey James Edwards (December 1967, - February 1, 1995)

The Welsh guitarist and lyricist for the Manic Street Preachers missed a flight for a U.S. promotional tour on February 1, 1995 and he functionally disappeared near the Wales-England border soon after that. In 2008, he was declared "presumed dead."
Jonathan Brandis (April 13, 1976 – November 12, 2003)

A child actor best known for the NBC sci-fi series "SeaQuest DSV" committed suicide in his L.A. apartment building.
Pat Tillman (November 6, 1976 – April 22, 2004)

The star safety for the Arizona Cardinals who left the NFL after 9/11 to enlist in the U.S. Army. He died in Afghanistan in a case of friendly fire in the midst of a firefight.
Amy Winehouse (September 14, 1983 - July 23, 2011)

The British R&B and soul singer, who had long battled an addiction to drugs and alcohol, died of alcohol poisoning at her London home.

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Anton Yelchin (March 11, 1989 – June 19, 2016)

The actor best known for playing Pavel Chekov in the big-screen "Star Trek" reboots, died in a car accident at his L.A. home.

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Fredo Santana (July 4, 1990 — January 19, 2018)

The Chicago rapper (né Derrick Coleman) who rose to fame with his cousin Chief Keef died on in 2018. No cause of death was immediately revealed, but Santana was hospitalized three months before with kidney and liver failure.

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Tyler Skaggs (July 13, 1991 - July 1, 2019)

The professional pitcher, who debuted with the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2012 and later played for the Los Angeles Angels, was found unresponsive in his hotel room in Southlake, Texas, in July 2019. No foul play was suspected, authorities said.
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