Woody Allen Settles American Apparel Lawsuit

According to Reuters, film director Woody Allen settled a year-long lawsuit with Dov Charney, founder of the clothing company American Apparel, Inc., over the use of his image in the company's advertising.

Allen sued on the basis that billboard advertisements depicting him as a Hasidic Jew damaged his reputation, the article says. In the ads, Allen appears with a beard and black hat next to a Yiddish caption that translated to "the high rabbi."

Allen had originally sought $10 million in the lawsuit but settled out of court for $5 million.

"Five million dollars is enough to discourage American Apparel or any one else from ever trying such a thing again," Allen said outside federal court in Manhattan.

Charney refuted, saying the ads fell under the rights of free speech. "The billboards were designed to inspire dialogue," he said. "I am not sorry for expressing myself."

Twitterers shared their thoughts on the settlement:

1. 
   atencio I don't know what's more surprising: that Woody settled or that American Apparel didn't use a far more appropriate Roman Polanksi ad.
   
2. 
   Jewssip Woody Allen Gets $5Million In American Apparel Settlement: No drama filled legal showdown with Mia and Soon-Yi, .. http://tinyurl.com/qh295d
   
3. 
   Autsa American Apparel adverts are getting really creepy. And they were pretty creepy before.
4. 
   hjasnoch Woody Allen reaches $5m settlement with American Apparel. Will that help him make better films? ;) http://tr.im/lGHg
   
   
5. 
   hummiemd I wanna go to an American Apparel store to see what the fuss is about. Are the clothes good quality? The online pictures suggest otherwise.
   
6. 
   lucifeen Woody Allen should donate the 5 Million settlement from American Apparel