Just when you thought Jeff Bezos’ fiancée was charting her own course to the stars, it turns out she has been accused of lifting a few plays straight from someone else’s book — literally.
Lauren Sanchez, jet-setter, TV host-turned-Bezos’ celestial sweetheart, has landed in legal hot water after author and yogi Alanna Zabel filed a copyright infringement lawsuit accusing her former client and friend, Sanchez, of blatantly copying her 2022 book Dharma Kitty Goes to Mars — from plot points to illustrations to (brace yourself) her actual catchphrases.
According to the 28-page federal complaint filed in Los Angeles, Sanchez didn’t just borrow inspiration — she allegedly copied Zabel’s “original expression,” “scene for scene,” and even mimicked the order and pacing of nearly every page. And the cherry on this cosmic sundae? Sanchez allegedly used her celebrity connections — ahem Kim Kardashian — to pump the book’s PR, only for Kim to delete her promotional post hours after the lawsuit dropped.
Kim Kardashian — who previously promoted The Fly Who Flew to Space on her Instagram page — quietly deleted her post shortly after the first lawsuit was filed last year. While no public explanation was given, it’s likely she preferred to distance herself from a book facing allegations of copyright infringement — especially given her own legal credentials.
Zabel’s book, published in 2022, tells the story of a science-loving girl accidentally launched to Mars with her cat, Dharma Kitty. The storyline of Sanchez’s 2024 bestseller The Fly Who Flew to Space? A fly accidentally launched into space.
From STEM lessons to window-gazing capsule scenes, anxious cries of “Help!”, triumphant hugs with family, and even receiving a medal of honor award upon return — the side-by-side comparisons are uncanny. Let’s just say if Dharma Kitty and Flynn the Fly met in orbit, they’d have serious déjà vu.
The complaint reads: “The major plot point on each page of Sanchez’s The Fly Who
Flew to Space is copied from Zabel’s Dharma Kitty Goes to Mars,” the suit alleges. “For the most part, the plot points are in the same order.”
“The level of similarity between these two books could not have occurred without copying,” states the legal filing, accusing Sanchez of intentionally lifting material that includes “character types, scenes, descriptors, and other expressive elements.”
The lawsuit drops another bombshell: Zabel and Sanchez were once close friends, with Zabel even gifting Sanchez early versions of her books and designs. They reportedly discussed collaborating on children’s content, dolls, and even signed a non-disclosure agreement in 2009 to protect Zabel’s IP.
Sanchez’s book reportedly features the fly character saying, “I am focused.” Sounds innocent enough — unless you know that “I AM FOCUSED” is a signature catchphrase of Dharma Kitty Goes to Mars. The lawsuit calls this a deliberate dig — part of what it calls Sanchez’s “calculated trolling” following a personal fallout years earlier when Zabel quit working for Sanchez.
And then there’s the spacesuit drama.
When Sanchez blasted off on Blue Origin this year, she did so in a custom- designed suit — not the standard black-banded gear all 10 previous missions used. According to the lawsuit, her suit appeared to copy the look of Pratya’s attire — “closely resembling the space suit worn by the main character.”
Well they sure do look similar with Zabel’s AZ I AM Girlz children’s book collection documenting the adventures of a multi-cultural group of all girls. See for yourself!
Zabel’s lawsuit demands damages, profits, and a permanent injunction. She’s also asking the court to credit her publicly for the content that catapulted Sanchez’s book to New York Times Bestseller status.
“Sanchez sought to reap the rewards of writing a children’s book without investing the same time, effort, and creative thought into the project,” the suit reads. “She profited from Zabel’s work... at Zabel’s expense.”
As for Sanchez? She’s remained silent. But in a world where copying is the sincerest form of flattery — it’s obvious that Zabel isn’t flattered.
Lately Alanna's favorite saying about her old friend Lauren, "Even Kanye West would be on good behavior if he was engaged to Jeff Bezos."
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