Champagne House Hires Former Porn Star To Rep Brand, Founding Family Sues

The Champagne House of Charles de Cazanove, one of the oldest in the Champagne region of France, has pissed off one of its founder’s descendants. Charles de Cazanove hired a former adult actress, Clara Morgane, to represent their brand, and they’re now being sued by the descendant to keep the family name from being associated with her name.

A post shared by Union Ardennais (@unionardennais) on Nov 30, 2017 at 11:38am PST

In an interview with Europe 1 Radio, descendant Count Loïc Chiroussot de Bigault de Cazanove proclaimed that his ancestors would be “turning in their graves” if they knew that Morgane was the new face of Charles de Cazanove Champagne. Morgane currently works as a television host and singer, according to the Times of London.

The bubbly business has been working with Morgane since last year, and they debuted a Cuvée Brut Rosé with her name on it in November.

That apparently was too much for the lengthy-named count, who sued the brand to keep Morgane’s name off the same label as his family’s former business. The Count said that the partnership was “simply scandalous” because of Morgane’s past as a porn star.

The Cazanove family sold the business in the 1950s, according to the Daily Meal, and its changed hands between multiple firms since then.

Je voulais vous dire pour répondre à la polémique : « Aujourd’hui Charles de Cazanove est une grande maison de #champagne à laquelle je suis fière de m’être associée. Ce monsieur CHIROUSSOT, arrière petit neveu de la famille qui crée la polémique aurait dû se poser la question de la volonté de ses ancêtres avant la vente de leur nom et cela, il y a bien longtemps. J’imagine que sa petite colère l’a empêché de goûter à notre délicieux nectar. Je propose de lui faire parvenir une bouteille afin qu’il puisse passer un bon moment d’émotion libératrice. » #ClaraMorgane 💋

A post shared by Clara Morgane (@claramofficiel) on Dec 27, 2017 at 9:28am PST

Morgane took to Instagram to blast Count Loïc Chiroussot for ridiculing her in such a way. A rough translation of her statement reads as follows:

“Today Charles de Cazanove is a big house of Spain to which I am proud to have joined. This gentleman CHIROUSSOT, great nephew of the family who creates the controversy should have asked the question of the will of his ancestors before the sale of their name and that long ago.
I imagine that his little anger prevented him from tasting our delicious nectar. I propose to send him a bottle so he can have a good time of liberating emotion. “

A representative of the champagne firm told FOX News that despite the lawsuit, Morgane’s bubbly rosé is still selling pretty well.