In my WIP, the general mystery I'm trying to establish is having a lot of contemporary cultural references in a setting that is clearly not Earth.
A character is chasing after someone leaning far on the villainish side of the character morality spectrum, and, after trying to describe her in vain to an officer, will shout "go after the one that looks like Katy Perry."
I want to do this because it's another real world reference and a contradictory description to mystify the reader, and I also plan to make this a running gag of sorts.
Now, after perusing some previous threads on mentioning celebrities, what I've gathered is that making them a character is usually a no no, you can't imply endorsement, and you can't defame them.
Here's the thing...am I defaming Katy Perry by comparing her looks to that of an antagonist? I certainly don't mean to defame her; I actually like Katy Perry.
But her lawyers may not know that.
I guess to be safe, I could make up a celebrity, or liken her to a one "Katie Berry," but I feel that ruins the illusion a tad.
Then again, there was that whole Scarlet Johanssen "image thief" incident this year.
Ugh, legal stuff. Grr.
Thanks in advance!
A character is chasing after someone leaning far on the villainish side of the character morality spectrum, and, after trying to describe her in vain to an officer, will shout "go after the one that looks like Katy Perry."
I want to do this because it's another real world reference and a contradictory description to mystify the reader, and I also plan to make this a running gag of sorts.
Now, after perusing some previous threads on mentioning celebrities, what I've gathered is that making them a character is usually a no no, you can't imply endorsement, and you can't defame them.
Here's the thing...am I defaming Katy Perry by comparing her looks to that of an antagonist? I certainly don't mean to defame her; I actually like Katy Perry.
But her lawyers may not know that.
I guess to be safe, I could make up a celebrity, or liken her to a one "Katie Berry," but I feel that ruins the illusion a tad.
Then again, there was that whole Scarlet Johanssen "image thief" incident this year.
Ugh, legal stuff. Grr.
Thanks in advance!