Alanna Zabel, a former yoga instructor, has come forward with allegations against Lauren Sanchez, claiming that Sanchez stole ideas for her children's book. Sanchez, who is engaged to Jeff Bezos, received two cease and desist letters from Zabel, asserting that Sanchez had copied the premise of her book for her book titled "The Fly Who Flew To Space."
Speaking to Daily Mail, Zabel shared that she had shared details of her book, "Dharma Kitty Goes to Mars," to Sanchez over several months in 2022, aiming to collaborate with the Bezos Earth Fund and Bezos Academy.
Zabel's accusations stem from when she worked for Sanchez as a yoga instructor from 2007 to 2010, during which they reportedly discussed potential collaborations on children's books. She frequently shared her self-published children's books, discussed ideas during yoga sessions, and even contemplated co-authoring with Sanchez and her brother, Michael, who managed her at the time.
Despite ending her yoga instructor agreement after Sanchez's 40th birthday in 2009 due to discomfort with gossip in Sanchez's social circle, Zabel maintained their friendship. Upon learning of Sanchez's relationship with Bezos, Zabel speculated that Sanchez might have changed her behavior.
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Zabel attempted to promote her yoga dolls and forthcoming books to both Sanchez and Bezos by emailing Bezos in 2022. She aimed to collaborate with the Bezos Earth Fund and Bezos Academy, leveraging their charitable objectives and Bezos's interests in space travel and conservation.
Despite receiving no response from Sanchez, Zabel claimed that Bezos's office acknowledged receipt of her emails and provided links for potential business opportunities with Amazon. However, two months later, Sanchez unveiled her children's book, "The Fly Who Flew To Space."
Zabel alleged that the book's illustration, featuring a rocket logo similar to one used in her work "Dharma Kitty Goes to Mars," confirmed her suspicions of copyright infringement. Zabel believed that her prior interactions with Sanchez and Bezos in 2022 had influenced Sanchez's decision to alter her original book premise and write about an animal journeying into space.
Zabel expressed her profound offense, stating that she intended to pursue legal recourse. She specified that she would allow them until the month's end to address the cease and desist before initiating the formal complaint process.
While Zabel is considering legal action, she has expressed a willingness to end the dispute if Sanchez were to apologize. When questioned by the media about whether she would drop the legal proceedings if Sanchez apologized, Zabel's response was ambiguous. She expressed that she would accept and support the apology, encouraging Sanchez to be sincere and forthright in addressing the situation.
Bezos and Sánchez confirmed their relationship in 2019, shortly after Bezos announced his divorce from his wife of 25 years, MacKenzie. Sánchez, who was co-hosting "Good Day LA" at the time, was also going through a divorce from her husband of 13 years, Patrick Whitesell, a prominent Hollywood agent.
Four years into their public relationship, Bezos proposed to Sánchez. They were seen vacationing in the South of France, indulging in leisure aboard Bezos' lavish $500 million yacht, where Sánchez was observed wearing an engagement ring.
Sanchez and Bezos are contemplating their wedding plans. In a conversation with Vogue magazine last year, Sanchez reminisced about Bezos' proposal in May. She described being overwhelmed when Bezos presented the engagement ring, confessing she was so surprised she 'blacked out a bit.'
Sanchez revealed that Bezos had hidden the ring under her pillow, which she discovered as she prepared for bed. As for the wedding arrangements, Sanchez expressed uncertainty about the scale and location, stating that they are still deliberating whether it will be a significant event or held overseas. She emphasized that they have only been engaged for five months and have not finalized plans yet.
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