Spencer Elden (born February 7, 1991) is an American man known for being the baby from Nirvana's Nevermind album cover.
Nirvana[]
Spencer was four months old when his parents got a call from underwater photographer Kirk Weddle, who asked if he could use their newborn baby for a family photo project. At the time, Elden’s ASD father helped with sets, and custom rigging. They were promised the photo was for a project that would have his genitals cropped out posed at an angle that implies to be nude, but not exposed. Before his parents could do anything about it, his image became an icon as the Nirvana Nevermind album where term "Nirvana Baby" was coined. Nirvana wanted Spencer to go on tour with the band as a baby and his parents declined immediately. Spencer's father was not able to sue Nirvana or the record label at the time, as he was threatened to lose all forms of financial support tied to supporting their family. They were also threatened to be countersued if they attempted this.
Spencer sued Kurt Cobain's estate for child exploitation caused by the "Nevermind" album cover, despite recreating the album cover as a child and a young adult. Spencer also got the word, "Nevermind," tattooed onto his chest as a teenager (along with several other tattoos) while trying to understand his purpose in life. He no longer gets tattoos and hates the thought of needles. Spencer currently doesn't want to be associated with Nirvana after learning more about Kurt Cobain's disturbing journal regarding pedophilia and violent acts towards babies.
Spencer also pays for his own therapy as pedophiles have tried to contact him and after he had been put in several dangerous situations. He also grew to learn that Kurt Cobain was a drug addict with serious issues. He continues to seek help. Spencer’s reactions to his past videos imply he may be neurodivergent. He continues to suffer from the long term effects of his unauthorized overexposure.
He married his wife, Angela Marie Najand Elden in 2021. His wife has expressed emotional distress from the misinterpretation of the lawsuit and long-term suffering they will have to cope with in the future. The couple have revealed their attempt to starting their own family as Spencer would like to be a father. Although, Angela works in the film industry herself, she works with an organization that teaches about safety on production, such as reporting child abuse. This is called the RCAN and is now being taught to thousands of industry professionals across the globe.