Paramount Sued for Copyright Infringement Over Rihanna’s ‘Smurfs’ Track

“Finger Pointing” at Smurfette: Paramount Sued for Copyright Infringement Over Rihanna’s ‘Smurfs’ Track

LOS ANGELES — Paramount Pictures is facing a scathing federal lawsuit over the soundtrack to its 2025 animated reboot, The Smurfs Movie. Grammy-nominated songwriter ROMANS (born Sam Roman) filed the complaint in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California on Friday, alleging the studio utilized his intellectual property without permission, payment, or a valid contract.

In a bizarre twist to the legal battle, the songwriter claims that when he confronted Paramount about the unauthorized use of his work, the studio attempted to shift the blame onto the film’s lead star and producer, Rihanna.

The Track at the Center of the Storm

According to the legal filing, the dispute centers on the track "Anyone," which is performed by Rihanna in a pivotal scene as her character, Smurfette, attempts to cheer up No Name (James Corden). Roman, who is credited as the songwriter and producer of the track, alleges that while negotiations for the song were initiated in 2022, they "completely collapsed" before the film’s release.

Despite the lack of a signed agreement, Paramount allegedly moved forward with the film’s release, featuring "Anyone" and another Roman-penned track, "Always on the Outside," performed by Corden.

“Paramount took the tack common to a toddler confronted with wrongdoing: Blame someone else,” wrote Roman’s attorney, Jonathan Steinsapir, in the complaint. “In this case, blame Rihanna.”

The "Rihanna Defense"

The lawsuit alleges that Paramount refused to remedy the non-payment by claiming they were "very frustrated" by the budget overruns associated with Rihanna’s participation in the film. The studio reportedly told Roman he was "just out of luck" because the movie—which industry insiders estimate lost the studio approximately $80 million—did not provide an "appropriate return" on their investment in the pop superstar.

Attorneys for Roman emphasized that the songwriter has "no issue with Rihanna," who is not named as a defendant in the suit. Instead, the legal action targets Paramount for fraud, negligent misrepresentation, and willful copyright infringement.

Broken Promises and Lost Royalties

Roman claims that the initial deal promised him "significant backend royalties" and a heavy promotional push for the song. However, as the film neared its 2025 debut, he was informed the track would not be released commercially as a single, a move that drastically lowered the song's potential economic value and led to the halting of contract talks.

The film's official soundtrack ultimately featured only one Rihanna-led single, "Friend of Mine," a track for which Roman holds no writing credit.

A Smurf-Sized Headache

For Paramount, the lawsuit is another blow to a project that has struggled to find its footing. While the film boasted an A-list cast including Octavia Spencer, Kurt Russell, and Dan Levy, it was met with mixed reviews and a disappointing box office performance.

If the court sides with Roman, the studio could be facing substantial statutory damages, as the lawsuit points out that Paramount "brazenly" credited Roman in the film’s metadata while simultaneously refusing to pay him "even a penny."

Paramount Pictures has not yet issued a formal statement regarding the litigation.