Val Kilmer Denies Ripping Off Artist With Golden Tumbleweed Sculpture, Accuses Man of Harassing Him

Val Kilmer says he never stole from an artist and calls the lawsuit over a golden tumbleweed sculpture nothing more than an attempt to harass him.

According to court documents obtained by The Blast, Kilmer is firing back at Bale Creek Allen, who claims the "Top Gun" star ripped off his gold-colored tumbleweed sculptures when he made an identical one and sold it for $150,000.

The actor denies all allegations of ripping off the man and demands the lawsuit be thrown out of court.

Kilmer says he "specifically denies that he has infringed or is liable for infringement of any purported copyright held by Mr. Allen."

He argues the artist's work lacks the "requisite originality for copyright protection" and says if Kilner's artwork looked similar, it's not something that can be copyrighted.

Kilmer continues, "Mr. Allen's claims are barred because of his misuse of copyright by filing unmeritorious and sham claims in the Complaint to use his purported copyright to secure an exclusive right or monopoly not granted by the copyright office, contrary to public policy, doing so with anticompetitive intent and effect and with the intent and effect of harassing Mr. Kilmer."

He is demanding the whole case be thrown out immediately and wants the artist to pay his legal bills.

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Bale Creek Allen claims to have been selling gold colored tumbleweed sculptures for years in art galleries around Texas and New Mexico.

Allen said at one point, Val Kilmer even approached him about buying the work but eventually said he couldn’t afford it. The artist says he then discovered Kilmer selling a knock off of his work for $150,000.

In 2016, Kilmer made one piece which he claimed to have dipped in 22k gold and bronzed. He put it up for sale at a Los Angeles boutique.

https://www.facebook.com/valkilmer/photos/a.371373466227701/1301727313192307/

Once he discovered the alleged knock-off, he reached out to Kilmer demanding he stop selling it but never heard back.

He sued seeking unspecified damages and a court order prohibiting the actor from selling any art that infringed on his copyrights.

Allen had been having trouble locating Kilmer and even accused the actor of purposely hiding where he lives to avoid being served with legal papers. He was finally able to serve him with the legal docs when Kilmer was the host of a Q&A at a screening of one of his plays in San Diego.