Lawsuits and criminal charges
In 2002, the company settled with a Florida State University student named Becky Lynn Gritzke. The young woman had flashed her breasts at Mardi Gras the year before and the company used video and an image of her for promotional material. Gritzke argued that her privacy had been violated but the company countered that removing one's clothing in public meant forfeiting one's right to privacy.[17]
In 2003, the U.S. Department of Justice filed a complaint against Girls Gone Wild alleging that the company failed to notify customers when they purchased subscriptions under a continuity program, rather than single DVDs.[18] In 2004, GGW settled for $1.1 million and agreed to disclose all terms and get consent for recurring charges.[19]
In 2006, Girls Gone Wild marketer MRA Holdings pleaded guilty to charges for failing to record the ages of its subjects in 2002 and 2003.[20] The parties agreed to pay $2.1 million in restitution and fines.[20]
In 2008, Ashley Dupré filed against Joe Francis and other defendants claiming that they filmed her without consent.[21][22] She later dropped the suit, commenting through her attorney that she wanted to focus on positive opportunities in her life.[23]
In 2008, a Missouri woman claimed that she was filmed without consent when a Girls Gone Wild contractor removed her halter top at a St. Louis bar.[24] A jury found that she consented. On re-trial, a judge awarded the woman $5.77 million after the defense failed to show at court.[25] On appeal, the judge upheld the verdict.[26]
In March 2008, four women claimed that they suffered emotional distress by being shown in Girls Gone Wild film.[27] In April 2011, a jury declined to award damages to the plaintiffs.[27] However, in January 2015, Francis agreed to settle a separate 2003 lawsuit that involved allegations of him taping the exposed breasts of underage girls as part of Girls Gone Wild content.[28] The 2015 civil settlement also involved Francis agreeing to serve 336 days in jail after accepting a no contest plea to criminal charges of child abuse and prostitution.[28]
Bankruptcy
In 2013, GGW Brands LLC filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.[3][29]
Accounts from alleged sex victims and Francis' departure from the United States
An episode of the TNT true crime anthology series Rich & Shameless called Girls Gone Wild Exposed aired on TNT on April 23, 2022, and featured accounts from alleged victims of Joe Francis, as well as a recorded verbal altercation between Francis and his wife, who was revealed to now be estranged from him.[30][31][32]
