Chess legend Nona Gaprindashvili is suing Netflix over their popular series "The Queen's Gambit".
The suit is claiming defamation and some wording in the finale that was "grossly sexist and belittling." In the episode, an announcer of a chess tournament says, "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."
Gaprindashvili, now 80, says that she did, in fact, compete against many men throughout her career. The lawsuit claims that she "competed against at least 59 male chess players (28 of them simultaneously in one game), including at least ten Grandmasters of that time."
It goes on to say, "Netflix brazenly and deliberately lied about Gaprindashvili's achievements for the cheap and cynical purpose of ‘heightening the drama' by making it appear that its fictional hero had managed to do what no other woman, including Gaprindashvili, had done."
Gaprindashvili is seeking $5 million in damages for defamation and "false light invasion of privacy". She is also seeking $75,000 for lost business opportunities.
Netflix responded by saying the following in a statement - "Netflix has only the utmost respect for Ms. Gaprindashvili and her illustrious career, but we believe this claim has no merit and will vigorously defend the case."
"The Queen's Gambit" is an award-winning series that is based on the 1983 novel by Walter Tevis.
