French count sues Champagne brand over hiring former porn star to promote it

A descendant of the Charles de Cazanove family is suing the owners of the champagne brand that bears his family name after they used Clara Morgane, a former porn star, to promote it.

Loïc Chiroussot of Bigault de Cazanove is attempting to pressure the current owners to remove the name from a limited edition pink champagne called ‘Champagne by Clara Morgane’.

Ms Morgane’s promotion of the champagne has involved a series of provocative photos posing with champagne bottles on her Instagram.

Ms Morgane, from Marseille, is a former porn star. Mr Chiroussot claims that his ancestors would be turning in their graves if they knew she was promoting it.

Mr Chiroussot’s family founded the brand in 1811, and the business was passed down the generations until 1983 when it came under the control of the Moët – Hennessy Group.

The current owners, the Rapeneau family, bought the brand in 2004 but kept the name. They also own the GH Martel Champagne house.

‘I am really shocked by this association,’ the count told newspaper L’Union.

‘It’s simply scandalous! How can I associate the name of my illustrious family with that of Clara Morgane? It is inconceivable, judge I do not understand, if they knew, my ancestors would turn in their graves!’


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