Sunny Called out for Copying Artist’s Work, Says It’s for Charity

The actor was called out by Instagram handle Diet Sabya.

Sunny Leone has been called out for copying artwork by Malika Favre.

(Photo Courtesy: Instagram)

Actor Sunny Leone was recently called out by a popular Instagram handle for allegedly reproducing an artist’s work without credit and auctioning it off for charity. The handle, Diet Sabya, is known for exposing copies and knock-offs in the fashion industry. A picture of the original artwork by French illustrator and graphic designer Malika Favre was posted alongside one of Sunny posing with her version which is almost identical.

In the comments, Sunny attempted to defend her actions saying that she had been given a photograph of the artwork and decided to paint it but had never claimed that the concept was her own. She also said that the artist should take it as a “compliment as it was being donated to cancer patients for charity.” She wrote:

“Just to give you the correct information, I was given a photograph of this piece of art. I then decided to paint it! At no time did I claim to come up with the idea. I simply painted a piece of art that I saw and loved. It should be taken as a compliment as it was being donated to cancer patients for charity. Nothing more and nothing less. Sorry you don’t like the version that I choose to create while helping children in Need. The painting was not about you or I. It was about trying to help!!!! Best of luck!!!! Keep creating.”

Sunny Leone, Actor

While it appears that Sunny has not used the artwork for personal gain, she sidesteps the issue of attributing credit to the original artist in her statement, a move that would be considered basic courtesy. Using another person’s intellectual property without permission, even it is for a good cause, is still disingenuous.