Lauren Sánchez is being sued for allegedly stealing the concept of her new children’s book, “The Fly Who Flew to Space,” according to a complaint obtained by Page Six and filed by her ex-yoga teacher Tuesday.
Alanna Zabel — who says she taught Sánchez privately from 2007 to 2011 — alleges that she engaged in “oral and written discussions spanning sixteen years” with the former reporter about her book idea.
The yoga instructor claimed in the complaint that it was in 2022, though, that she laid out a “specific” concept about a “cat who flies to Mars” for her children’s book, titled, “Dharma Kitty Goes to Mars.”
Zabel claims that she also reached out to Sánchez’s fiancé, Jeff Bezos, about “giving proceeds of sales from the book to Bezos Earth Fund and Bezos Academy.”
Although the yoga teacher did not confirm whether she ever made contact with the Amazon founder, 60, she claims his personal assistant told her, “Mr. Bezos’ received her email,” giving her reassurance.
Zabel says in the complaint that she was “trusting her with the intellectual property and concept” despite Sánchez, 54, allegedly showing her “continual and outrageous acts of jealousy” in the past.
“The actions of defendant constitute intentional infliction of emotional distress as they were extreme and outrageous, carried out with the intent to harm plaintiff, driven by personal jealousy, and a personal desire to posture publicly as ‘philanthropic and caring,’” the yogi argues herself as she filed without an attorney.
“In a nutshell, defendant has always demonstrated a desire to appear like plaintiff, an authentic, independent, free-spirited, hard working and public service oriented yoga instructor.”
This is not the first time Zabel has threatened to take legal action against Sánchez, as the instructor fired off a cease-in-desist letter back in March when the media personality first announced her new book.
Sánchez wrote via Instagram at the time, “I still can’t believe it!!! I’m so so excited to share the cover of my first children’s book, ‘The Fly Who Flew to Space.’
“I’m beyond grateful b/c this story holds a piece of my heart. It’s a celebration of overcoming challenges, the joy of learning, and dreaming beyond the stars.”
“The The Fly Who Flew to Space” was officially released on Sept. 10, and Sánchez has maintained in her press tour that she has a deep personal connection to the book’s storyline.
“I just always thought I was dumb,” the socialite told “Extra” Tuesday, speaking of how she learned about her dyslexia diagnosis. She then shared a teacher once told her, “You’re not dumb, you just can’t spell.”
“Everyone said it’s a learning disability — it’s not. It’s a learning difference and that’s what this book is for,” Sánchez explained.
“It’s for kids that feel out of place because they’re not learning the same way everyone else is in class, but they’re going to be OK.”
Zabel alleges in her suit that Sánchez made “obvious changes to her PR topic, focusing on dyslexia, even though there is no mention of dyslexia in her book.”
She claims this ordeal has caused her significant emotional distress, severe emotional harm, has impacted her personal and professional objectives, reputation, and well-being.
The yoga teacher is seeking “appropriate” compensation and relief but did not provide an exact monetary amount. She is also demanding a trial by jury.
Reps for Sánchez did not immediately return Page Six’s request for comment.
Zabel previously made headlines when she had a falling out with former client Adam Levine, as well, publicly claiming the Maroon 5 frontman, 45, “treated her like trash.” She also once likened a situation she had with a former roommate to the 2022 University of Idaho killings.
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