Skip To...
Adam Levine is facing a federal copyright lawsuit over an Instagram post he shared nearly six years ago in support of Hurricane Dorian victims. According to court documents obtained by Billboard, the Maroon 5 frontman is accused of using copyrighted footage of storm destruction in the Bahamas without permission. The lawsuit, filed earlier this week by Global Weather Productions LLC, claims Levine reposted video footage originally shot in the Abacos Islands, one of the hardest-hit areas during the deadly 2019 storm, without securing a license.
The footage, taken by “professional storm chaser” Michael Brandon Clement, was first published on September 3, 2019. Levine allegedly shared it three days later, on September 6, in an Instagram post urging his millions of followers to donate to the Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund. While Levine’s post aimed to raise awareness and encourage charitable donations, Global Weather Productions says intent doesn’t excuse what it views as a clear case of copyright infringement.
“As a musician and author, defendant has significant experience in copyright matters and is familiar with specific practices including the need to ensure that content used in his posts has been properly licensed,” the lawsuit states. “As a content creator himself, defendant should be particularly sensitive to the unauthorized use of his works.”
Adam Levine Hit With $150K Lawsuit After Sharing Hurricane Footage to Urge Donations
The company claims it attempted to resolve the matter outside of court, reaching out to Levine’s team in April and again in May of this year, but never received a response. “Despite plaintiff’s efforts and willingness to address defendant’s infringing activity, defendant failed to respond, and plaintiff was forced to seek judicial intervention,” the suit alleges.
Now, Global Weather Productions is seeking damages that could reach up to $150,000 under federal copyright law. The company has filed dozens of similar lawsuits since 2023, targeting major media outlets such as Reuters, Univision, and NewsNation, as well as public figures like model Molly Sims. As of now, Levine has not publicly addressed the lawsuit.
Fans Defend Adam Levine as He’s Sued Over Hurricane Dorian Post
Meanwhile, reactions to the news online have been sharply critical of the plaintiff, with many defending Levine’s original intent. One Daily Mail follower called it a “pathetic and disgusting money grab from someone who was trying to help. What are you, a sports league trying to profit from this? Wtf.”
Another added, “Doesn’t show the people who own the video in a good light at all. They obviously put money over compassion.” Others chimed in with, “I don’t like Adam Levine but he was trying to do a good deed,” and, “Give me a break.”
The lawsuit has sparked a broader debate about where to draw the line between protecting intellectual property and recognizing the humanitarian intent behind sharing critical disaster footage.
