Lauren Sánchez, the fiancée of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, is being sued by her former yoga teacher for allegedly plagiarizing the teacher’s children’s book.
In the lawsuit, which was obtained by TMZAlanna Zabel claims that Sánchez’s children’s book The Fly Who Flew To Space, published in August, is a gross copy of her 2022 children’s book Dharma Kitty Goes To Mars.
Zabel, who sent Sánchez two cease-and-desist letters before the publication of his latest book, claims he contacted the well-known entertainment reporter in 2022 to pitch a concept for a children’s book about a cat who flies to Mars.
The yoga instructor, who says she taught Sanchez from 2007 to 2010, alleges in the lawsuit that the theft is related to Sanchez’s “constant and excessive displays of jealousy” over the years.
DailyMail.com has contacted Zabel and a representative for Sanchez for comment.
Lauren Sánchez, the fiancée of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, is being sued by her former yoga teacher for allegedly plagiarizing the teacher’s children’s book
In the lawsuit, obtained by TMZ, Alanna Zabel alleges that Sánchez’s children’s book, The Fly Who Flew To Space, published in August, is a substantial copy of her 2022 children’s book Dharma Kitty Goes To Mars.
Zabel accuses Sánchez of copying parts of her book to take revenge on her for quitting her job as a yoga teacher more than a decade ago.
The instructor, who filed her lawsuit without a lawyer, did not specify what kind of “jealousy” Sánchez allegedly showed.
However, she accuses Sánchez of having “always shown a desire to appear as a woman.” [Zabel]an authentic, independent, free-spirited, hard-working and socially committed yoga teacher.’
She says the relationship could have yielded a modest benefit to the charities involved with Bezos, claiming that proceeds from the book would benefit the Bezos Earth Fund and the Bezos Academy.
In 2020, Bezos used $10 billion to establish the Bezos Earth Fund, which provides grants to projects that combat climate change and protect natural areas. The fund focuses on projects that will be completed within the current decade, rather than speculative, long-term projects.
Former Amazon CEO Bezos Academy emphasizes the importance of early childhood education for child development and is committed to building Montessori preschools in underserved communities.
In April, Zabel told DailyMail.com she was furious when Sánchez announced her own children’s book in January 2023.
“I am deeply offended and will be taking legal action against the book,” she said at the time.
Zabel said that while she was teaching, she had visited Sánchez’s home and shared her love of children’s books with her. She had even discussed the possibility of helping Sánchez write a children’s book with her brother Michael.
She said she ended her partnership with Sánchez because of the ongoing “gossip” and that she “couldn’t handle her personality anymore.” However, Zabel added that the two had remained cordial in the years that followed.
However, she also called Sánchez a “toxic person.”
According to her, Sánchez never responded to the proposals she sent her for what would later become Dharma Kitty Goes To Mars, but she says Bezos’ office did acknowledge receipt of the materials.
Zabel accuses Sanchez of copying parts of her book to get back at her for quitting as her yoga teacher more than a decade ago. She sent two cease-and-desist letters after Sanchez announced her book in January 2023, two months after Zabel’s book was published
The yoga instructor, who says she taught Sanchez from 2007 to 2010, alleges in the lawsuit that the theft is related to Sanchez’s “constant and excessive displays of jealousy” over the years; Sanchez pictured on Sept. 12 in NYC
Zabel accuses Sánchez of ‘always showing the desire to appear as a criminal’ [Zabel]an authentic, independent, free-spirited, hard-working and public service oriented yoga instructor
Zabel told DailyMail.com in April that she had spent time at Sánchez’s home while working as her tutor, and that she had shared her love of children’s books and even discussed the possibility of helping Sánchez write a children’s book with her brother Michael.
While Lauren never responded to Alanna’s emails or Instagram messages, Zabel claims Bezos’ office did respond to acknowledge receipt of an email sent in November 2022 about her book; Sánchez and Bezos pictured in March in La
Zabel’s lawsuit alleges that the media figure’s book contains more than 60 percent similar text and narrative. However, the methodology for arriving at that percentage is unclear.
But as TMZ notes, in 2024 alone, several children’s books have been released about characters going into space.
Several children’s books have also been published in the past year with insects as main characters.
Zabel is known for teaching yoga to several celebrity clients, including Maroon 5’s Adam Levine and author Deepak Chopra.