Who is Dorothea Fletcher? Tina Turner, 81, sues tribute singer for being too similar
Tina Turner sued a Germany-based tribute act called 'Simply the Best' because their performer Dorothea 'Coco' Fletcher looks too much like her. Turner hired a team of lawyers who took Fletcher to court and argued the latter looks too similar in the promotional photos which might lead fans to think the original star is involved in the show. Turner has sued Cofo Entertainment, a German company that represents Fletcher as well as other tribute acts that imitate Elvis Presley, The Beatles, and Frank Sinatra.
The 81-year-old first filed the suit in 2020 when posters for the act were released. A court in Cologne said the posters might indeed be misleading following which they went into redesign. Turner lost a follow-up case at the Court of Appeals which ruled the risk of confusion amongst fans didn't outweigh Fletcher's right of artistic expression. Turner's team has now approached Germany's Federal Court of Justice and the outcome could completely change the multi-billion dollar tribute act industry. Turner fans could refer to this article to know more about her faith. Her ex-husband Ike Turner died last year but she didn't attend his funeral after years of brutal physical abuse.
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Who is Dorothea 'Coco' Fletcher?
Despite mostly performing in Germany, Dorothea 'Coco' Fletcher was born and brought up in Alabama. Growing up, the musical styles that influenced her included blues, jazz and gospel. She has shared the stage with Bobby Womack and Millie Jackson and also went on tour with the doo-wop group 'The Platters'. She has performed live on tribute-act concerts including 'Legends in Concert' and 'American Superstar'. Artists that inspired her early in life included Al Green, BB King, Chaka Kahn but she was particularly fond of Tina Turner. "Tina Turner's performances differ considerably from those of other artists. I have always been fascinated by her incredible energy and stage presence," Fletcher who is dubbed the world's best double of the 'Queen of Rock' once said.
Coming back to the lawsuit, Brunhilde Ackermann, the lawyer for Cofo Entertainment said an average fan would expect a tribute act to look like the real celebrity. Only a "chronically stupid person who looks at everything superficially" would get the two confused, Ackermann said while also warning that the case might wreck the tribute-act industry. Judge Thomas Koch questioned Turner's motive behind filing the suit and if her endorsing a rival tribute act was responsible for the same. The final ruling in the case is not expected until February 2022.