Former yoga instructor Alanna Zabel sent a cease-and-desist letter to Lauren Sánchez, accusing her of stealing the idea for a children’s book. Zabel claims she shared the concept of her book, “Dharma Kitty Goes to Mars,” with Sánchez in 2022 and intended to donate proceeds to charitable organizations founded by Sánchez’s fiancé, Jeff Bezos. She alleges that she had discussions with Sánchez about collaborating on a children’s book project, but Sánchez never responded to her emails or messages.
Zabel stated that she had given Sánchez copies of her self-published children’s books over the years and discussed her work during yoga sessions. She also claimed that Sánchez’s brother, Michael, who was managing her at the time, was involved in conversations about the children’s book project. Zabel revealed that she stopped working for Sánchez in 2009 due to the media personality’s alleged toxic behavior and love for gossiping. However, she reconnected with Sánchez after she began dating Jeff Bezos.
Despite not receiving a response from Sánchez regarding the book proposal, Zabel claimed that the Amazon CEO’s office offered her links to pursue business development with the company. However, Sánchez went ahead and announced her own children’s book, “The Fly Who Flew to Space,” on Instagram, expressing her excitement for the project. Zabel sent a cease-and-desist letter to Sánchez’s lawyer and book publisher, The Collective Book Studio, and is planning to file a formal complaint for copyright infringement if she does not receive a response.
The accusations and legal action taken by Zabel have put a strain on the relationship between her and Sánchez, as they were former yoga instructor and client. Zabel hoped that her children’s book idea would catch the attention of Jeff Bezos, given his interest in space travel and global conservation. Despite the ongoing dispute, Sánchez is set to release “The Fly Who Flew to Space” in bookstores on September 17. Representatives for Sánchez, Bezos, and The Collective Book Studio did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the matter.
