There she goes again: Sonja Bakker sued for plagiarism once more
Oh, Sonja. The diet guru has been sued for plagiarism once again. Yes, again, because she was already sued earlier by American food blogger Silvia Ribas Dunnirvine (after which she admitted to the plagiarism, but shifted the blame onto her employees), and later by Food Sisters Janneke and Amande.
She is now being sued by nutritionist Bea Pols. She is no stranger to this, because she has also gone to the police before because Sonja allegedly copied her recipes. Several times, in fact.
Bea and Sonja: a turbulent past
Bea’s first plagiarism complaint was filed in 2006. She did not win that case: the judge said that the women had completed the same training, and that this could explain similarities in their recipes. Shortly afterward, the roles were reversed and Sonja sued Bea for plagiarism. Bea was alleged to have stolen Sonja’s supplement. Bea found that complaint unacceptable: it allegedly destroyed her entire business. In 2015, Bea decided to start another case against Sonja. She lost that one too: the judge found the overall impression of both women’s books completely different. So far, not much success for Bea.
Sentences, periods, commas and… spelling mistakes
Bea has now gone to the police once again. Sonja allegedly copied ‘sentences, periods, commas and even spelling mistakes’ from Bea’s book. If identical spelling mistakes are not evidence of plagiarism, then I don’t know what is. In any case, Bea feels confident in her fight against Sonja. That is mainly because Sonja admitted in 2021 that she had indeed committed plagiarism by translating recipes and taking over photo ideas from various food bloggers.
Sonja, is it really your recipe?
Sonja’s followers seem to have lost a little faith in the diet guru, at least. Whether this recipe for Bami Malay really comes from Sonja herself is being questioned in the comments – ‘Is it a recipe of your own or someone else’s? asks Ditty.
And Sonja? She is enjoying herself in Ibiza, with poor reception. So we cannot ask her.
Source: Shownieuws, NU.nl, image: Sonja Bakker Instagram
