Yesterday (December 9th), TMZ broke the news that Vicky Cornell — Soundgarden singer Chris Cornell's widow — was suing the surviving members of the trailblazing grunge group for allegedly unpaid royalties and the rights to her late husband's final recordings. The report cited court documents, which accused the band members of an "unlawful attempt to strong-arm Chris' Estate into turning over certain audio recordings created by Chris before he passed away." Vicky has since commented via the official Chris Cornell Instagram account on the current situation and her disappointment in how it is playing out.
"I have been taking time these past few weeks to be grateful for all the good people around me and for those who have lifted me up at the very worst times in my life," she captioned a striking photo of Chris with their two children. "The silver lining, during the storm, is finding and appreciating the subtle glow of those who sincerely support you in your life unconditionally. However, sometimes while you grieve the one you physically lost, you realize that you must now grieve the loss of some of those you considered friends and family as well."
While she doesn't explicitly mention Soundgarden or the lawsuit, Vicky clearly alludes to it, speaking to how widows are often exploited, her dismay at the turn of events and her motivation in taking the issues to court. "I'm shocked at how often this occurs," she continued. "It's not just me, or the rock-star widow, or the political widow; it is the case for the vast majority of women after their partners have passed. It transcends socio-economic class, race, and religion. It is an unpleasant and unfortunately all too common theme. Hard-hearted family members, friends, and business associates; who will exploit a widow's vulnerability when she's broken and alone."
Vicky concludes, "This was not the way I would have chosen to move forward. But I will not be pushed aside for someone else's convenience or gain. I will not sacrifice our children's futures for someone else's greed. And I will not let someone else make me feel shame because the man I loved was taken from all of us too soon.
"I will do justice by my husband's work and memory; for our children and for everything we stood for. I want to thank everyone who has stood by Chris and has supported us through this devastating time. Your love and your kindness will never be forgotten."
See the full post below.
