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Selena Quintanilla's father sues her widower over TV project

The late singer was married to Chris Perez for nearly three years before her death in 1995.

By Annie Martin
Chris Perez (L) with Selena's sister, Suzette Quintanilla, and brother, A.B. Quintanilla, at the late singer's Madame Tussauds unveiling ceremony on August 30. File Photo by Paul Buck/European Pressphoto Agency
Chris Perez (L) with Selena's sister, Suzette Quintanilla, and brother, A.B. Quintanilla, at the late singer's Madame Tussauds unveiling ceremony on August 30. File Photo by Paul Buck/European Pressphoto Agency

LOS ANGELES, Dec. 7 (UPI) -- Selena Quintanilla's father is suing her widower over a new TV project about the late Tejano singer's life.

Abraham Quintanilla, Jr., filed a lawsuit against Chris Perez and Endemol media company Dec. 2 in Texas to stop production on the series, according to E! News.

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Quintanilla claims Perez violated an estate agreement by writing the book To Selena with Love, and by now contributing to the TV project, reports The Wrap. The series will be based on the 2012 book, which tells Selena's story through Perez's eyes.

The agreement reportedly gives Quintanilla sole rights to all entertainment properties in Selena's estate, including her name, voice, signature, photograph and likeness. He is seeking "monetary relief over $1 million."

"The petition states Mr. Perez violated the Entertainment Properties agreement. He doesn't have the rights to publish a book or produce a television series based in any part on Selena," Quintanilla estate attorney Simran A. Singh told Forbes.

Endemol Shine North America had announced in November that it would be adapting To Selena with Love. Perez said at the time that he wanted "to take the important step of being fully transparent" and bring his "everlasting relationship to life on the screen."

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Selena and Perez eloped in 1992 due to Quintanilla's disapproval of their relationship. The singer released four studio albums before she was killed by former friend Yolanda Saldivar at age 23 in 1995.

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