Several news outlets are reporting that Jennifer Lopez production company is being sued for $40 million dollars by Samantha Barbash – the real-life stripper who inspired the actress’ character Ramona in “Hustlers.”

According to court documents obtained, Samatha Barbash has filed a federal lawsuit against Jennifer Lopez’s production company Nuyorican Productions, STX Entertainment, Gloria Sanchez Productions, and Pole Sisters LLC.

In the lawsuit, Barbash explains “Hustlers” is based on a 2015 New York magazine article “The Hustlers at Scores” which was based on the real-life events of Barbash. She was a stripper at Score’s Gentleman’s Club in New York.

In 2017, she pled guilty to conspiracy, assault, and grand larceny in exchange for five year’s probation. She claims the film producers approached her before production to “obtain consent and waiver from Ms. Barbash for the production of the film and their ultimate portrayal” of her. She refused to sign off on the consent or waive her privacy rights.

She accuses them of blatantly disregarding her refusal to consent and says they proceeded to “exploit” her likeness and character in the film and the promotion.