Ever since streaming took over television viewership, true crime documentaries have become some of the most popular shows and movies watched on these services. While many have helped shed light on crimes the public knew little about, the latest true crime documentary streaming on Netflix may turn the tables on the streaming service. A lawsuit was filed by a man in Dallas County recently who claims Netflix used his image in ‘The Hatchet Wielding Hitchhiker’ without his permission.
Taylor Hazlewood of Kentucky is suing Netflix for defamation after a photo of him holding a hatchet was used in a recent true crime documentary about Caleb "Kai" McGillvary. According to WFAA, the lawsuit claims he is not connected to McGillvary or his murder case. The photo can be found on Hazlewood’s Instagram profile, though he says it was taken to honor his favorite childhood book, ‘Hatchet’ by Gary Paulsen.
"Without any reason, other than pure recklessness, Netflix misappropriated the Hazlewood Photograph and used it in two separate parts of the Film," says the lawsuit. Now, Hazlewood is seeking more than $1 million in punitive damages after the photo was used without his permission. Maybe one day there will be a true crime documentary about this story.
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