A descendant of the Charles de Cazanove family is suing the owners of the champagne brand that bears his family name after they used a former porn star to promote it.
Loïc Chiroussot of Bigault de Cazanove is attempting to pressure the current owners to remove the name from a limited edition pink champagne called ‘Champagne by Clara Morgane’.
Ms Morgane’s promotion of the champagne has involved a series of provocative photos posing with champagne bottles on her Instagram.
Loïc Chiroussot of Bigault de Cazanove’s family name features on the champagne Clara Morgane (pictured) is promoting, and he intends to sue the owners of the brand
Ms Morgane, from Marseille, is a former porn star. Mr Chiroussot claims that his ancestors would be turning in their graves if they knew she was promoting it
Mr Chiroussot’s family founded the brand in 1811, and the business was passed down the generations until 1983 when it came under the control of the Moët – Hennessy Group.
The current owners, the Rapeneau family, bought the brand in 2004 but kept the name. They also own the GH Martel Champagne house.
‘I am really shocked by this association,’ the count told newspaper L’Union.
‘It’s simply scandalous! How can I associate the name of my illustrious family with that of Clara Morgane? It is inconceivable, judge I do not understand, if they knew, my ancestors would turn in their graves!’
Ms Morgane began working in the adult movie industry in 2000 with her then boyfriend Greg Centauro.
She left the porn industry in 2001 and began her singing career in 2007.
Ms Morgane shot back on Instagram by saying: ‘This gentleman CHIROUSSOT, great nephew of the family, should have asked the question of the will of his ancestors before the sale of their name and that, a long time ago’
The current owners, the Rapeneau family, bought the brand in 2004 but kept the name. Pictured: Clara Morgane walking the runway at the chocolate dress fashion show celebrating ‘Salon du Chocolat’ in 2011
After hearing about the count’s plans to sue, the French singer took to Twitter and Instagram with a light-hearted response.
She said: ‘This gentleman CHIROUSSOT, great nephew of the family, should have asked the question of the will of his ancestors before the sale of their name and that, a long time ago.
‘I imagine that his little anger prevented him from tasting our delicious nectar. I propose to send him a bottle so that he can have a good time of liberating emotion.’
Champagne by Clara Morgane was released on November 29 in Paris, and costs 50 euros (£44).
The case will go before a court in Lille on January 9 at 2pm.
Ms Morgane began working in the adult movie industry in 2000 with her then boyfriend Greg Centauro, and left two years later. In 2007 she began her music career
She added: ‘I imagine that his little anger prevented him from tasting our delicious nectar. I propose to send him a bottle so that he can have a good time of liberating emotion’
Mr Chiroussot (pictured) will present his case before a court in Lille on January 9