Koons's Porn-Star Ex Sues for Child Support

NEW YORK—Blue-chip artist Jeff Koons was sued by his ex-wife Ilona Staller, a former porn-star and Italian parliament member, for at least $2.4 million in child support yesterday, reports Bloomberg.

The case, filed in New York Supreme Court in Manhattan, asks for reinforcement of a decision by Italian courts rejecting Koons's right to custody of the couple's son, Ludwig, 15. Koons was ordered by the Italian court to pay 15,000 euros ($23,700) a month in child support beginning in 1998 as well as legal fees, but did not make any payments from October 1998 through 2007, according to the suit.

"Jeff Koons is a very famous New York artist noted for his use of kitsch imagery using painting, sculpture, and other forms who exhibits his work all over the world and sells it at a very high price," Staller said in her suit. "Koons accepted the jurisdiction of the Italian Courts and acknowledged to abide by the judgments to be rendered."

The couple married in 1991 and divorced in 1994. Ludwig lives in Italy with his mother.