Photographer Behind Iconic 'Napalm Girl' Image Files Lawsuit Against Netflix Over Documentary Allegations
Nick Ut, the photojournalist long credited with capturing one of the most powerful images of the Vietnam War, has initiated legal proceedings against Netflix and the creators of a documentary that controversially claims he did not take the photograph. The iconic picture, titled "The Terror of War," shows nine-year-old Kim Phuc running naked down a street in Trang Bang, South Vietnam, fleeing an American napalm attack on June 8, 1972. This Pulitzer Prize-winning image has become a symbol of wartime suffering, but its authorship is now at the centre of a heated dispute.
Documentary Sparks Controversy and Legal Action
The legal battle stems from the Netflix documentary The Stringer, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2025. The film, led by journalist Gary Knight of the VII Foundation, investigates claims that freelance photographer Nguyen Thanh Nghe actually took the famous photograph. According to the documentary, Nghe asserts he was working as a driver for an NBC news crew when he visited Trang Bang and captured the image, later selling it to the Associated Press for $20 and receiving a print in exchange—a memento he says was subsequently destroyed by his wife.
In court documents filed in France, Ut vehemently denies these allegations, stating they have severely damaged his reputation. "These accusations strike at the very core of who I am," Ut declared in a statement. "My entire career has been built on telling the truth, often at great personal risk." At the time the photograph was taken, Ut was a 21-year-old employee of the Associated Press. He is seeking $116,000 in damages and $23,000 in legal costs, as reported by the New York Times.
Investigations and Conflicting Conclusions
The controversy has prompted multiple investigations into the photograph's origins. The World Press Photo Foundation conducted its own review and stated in May that two other photojournalists "may have been better positioned to take the photograph than Nick Ut." Consequently, Ut's credit for the image was suspended, though no other photographer was officially credited. Meanwhile, the Associated Press carried out its own investigation but decided to continue crediting Ut for the photograph.
Derl McCrudden, an AP vice president overseeing global news production, explained, "We left nothing uncovered that we're aware of and we've done it with a great deal of respect to everybody involved. It makes no difference to us if we changed the credit, but it has to be based on facts and evidence. And there is no definitive evidence proving that Nick Ut did not take this picture."
Legal Arguments and Charitable Intentions
Ut's legal team argues that the documentary's claims "go far beyond the acceptable scope of journalistic investigation" and imply "fraudulent and disloyal behavior" by Ut. According to the New York Times, lawyers for Ut requested Netflix not to distribute the film last autumn. James Hornstein, Ut's attorney, emphasised that the lawsuit is primarily about defending his client's reputation rather than financial gain. "He brought the action to defend his reputation, and not for financial gain," Hornstein stated, adding that Ut plans to donate any awarded damages to charity.
Interestingly, the documentary notes that Kim Phuc Phan Thi, the subject of the photograph, has no personal memory of the moment it was taken. Title cards at the end of the film reveal, "She states that eyewitnesses, including her uncle, told her that it was Nick Ut who took the photo, and took her to the hospital. She still believes that." This adds a poignant layer to the dispute, highlighting how historical narratives can become entangled with personal and professional legacies.
