Lauren Sánchez is facing a lawsuit from her former yoga instructor, Alanna Zabel, who accuses her of lifting the idea for her new children’s book, “The Fly Who Flew to Space.” This legal complaint, unveiled by Page Six and officially lodged on Tuesday, claims that the two had extensive discussions over 16 years regarding book concepts.
Zabel, who taught yoga to Sánchez between 2007 and 2011, asserts that she presented a detailed idea for her own children’s book—a story about a cat venturing to Mars called “Dharma Kitty Goes to Mars”—in 2022. She argues that Sánchez’s work essentially substitutes a cat for a fly as the protagonist.
In her legal filing, Zabel took issue not just with the idea, but with what she describes as Sánchez’s jealousy-fueled behavior. Zabel alleges that she was generous in sharing her intellectual property and concepts, despite facing what she calls “continual and outrageous acts of jealousy” from Sánchez.
She underscores her emotional distress caused by the accusations, claiming that Sánchez’s actions were egregious and a severe affront to her reputation. Zabel has opted to navigate this lawsuit without an attorney, stating that Sánchez’s behavior appears to be driven by jealousy and a desire for public recognition as a “philanthropic and caring” figure.
Zabel’s grievances extend beyond the book’s theme. She mentions reaching out to Sánchez’s fiancé, Jeff Bezos, about contributing proceeds from her book to charitable organizations linked to him. While she couldn’t confirm direct contact, she noted that Bezos’ assistant acknowledged receipt of her message.
This isn’t the first time Zabel has threatened legal action against Sánchez—she previously sent a cease-and-desist letter in March, right around the time Sánchez announced her new project. In a counter to these claims, Sánchez has expressed heartfelt excitement about her book, stating it resonates with her personal journey through dyslexia, a topic Zabel claims was superficially appropriated.
Sánchez, in her promotion of “The Fly Who Flew to Space,” has defended her connection to the material, emphasizing themes of resilience and learning. However, Zabel insists that Sánchez’s approach is a disingenuous adaptation of her own original concept, which had no mention of dyslexia as part of the storyline.
As Zabel seeks compensation and demands a jury trial, she aims to address the emotional toll she claims to have suffered due to this dispute. Meanwhile, representatives for Sánchez have yet to respond to inquiries regarding the allegations. This legal entanglement highlights the ongoing complexities of creative ownership and personal relationships in the spotlight.
