Fox News anchor Harris Faulkner sues toymaker over plastic hamster claiming she's 'emotionally distressed over likeness'

The anchor is suing Hasbro Inc. for $5 million and is even using a side-by-side comparison to plead her case

A Fox News anchor has been left ‘emotionally damaged’ because of a toy.
Harris Faulkner has filed a lawsuit for $5 million against toymaker Hasbro Inc. because she feels that they have used her likeness for a teeny plastic hamster.
Papers were filed this week at the US District Court in New Jersey for creating, manufacturing, and distributing for sale a plastic toy hamster named 'Harris Faulkner’”, which is part of its Pet Pawsabilities line.

 

Harris Faulkner has been devastated by the 'likeness'

Six-time Emmy Award-winner Faulkner, who stars on Fox News Weekend for the news channel, argues that the plastic toy with a butterfly was encroaching on her unique character and personality.
Her lawyers argued that the toy "willfully and wrongfully appropriated Faulkner's unique and valuable name and distinctive persona for its own financial gain."
The company no longer sells the hamster toy, but Faulkner’s legal team entered a photograph of the two as a side-by-side comparison as supposed evidence.

Benson Detwyler (left) and Harris Faulkner (right) by Hasbro Inc.

In the legal documents, her lawyers describe the award-winning anchor as a "uniquely named, acclaimed veteran journalist and author" who "has worked for decades to establish and maintain her personal brand and laudable professional reputation."
They argue that Hasbro’s packaging implies that the toy has trademarked Faulkner’s name, but they claimed that Hasbro has not ever asked for permission to use Faulkner’s name or likeness.
Faulkner wants a jury trial, arguing that "Hasbro's portrayal of Faulkner as a rodent is demeaning and insulting."

In the court documents, it’s alleged that the blue-eyed and brown-haired plastic hamster even bears a similar resemblance to the anchor, with the complexion, make-up and eye shape.
They also claim that she’s “extremely distressed” because of the “choking hazard” warning that her namesake poses to small kids.