Amy Winehouse's ex-husband, who admitted introducing the late singer to heroin, is reportedly making a £1 million (NZ$1.87 million) legal claim to her estate - eight years after the 27-year-old died from alcohol poisoning.
Winehouse's family have strongly criticised Blake Fielder-Civil, 37, for his attempt to grab the 'Rehab' hitmaker's fortune, saying "he deserves nothing."
Fielder-Civil, known for his destructive, drug-fuelled marriage to the controversial singer from 2007 to 2009, is demanding a monthly allowance plus a lump sum payout, The Sun reports.
"This is someone who spent a lot of Amy's money during their time together," a source close to the Winehouse family told the outlet.
"He also spent a lot of their marriage in prison, bringing nothing but pain to everyone.
"To say that it would be inappropriate for him to benefit from her estate would be an understatement."
His legal claim comes mere days after the eighth anniversary of her death.
Winehouse died from alcohol poisoning on July 23, 2011. She did not leave a will, and her after-tax assets of £2.94 million (NZ$5.5 million) went to her mother Janis, 63, and father Mitch, 68. However, the value of her estate is said to have increased due to posthumous releases and royalties.
Fielder-Civil reportedly believes he has a legitimate claim to a cut of Winehouse's estate as she released some of her best-selling material during their six year relationship.
However, Fielder-Civil may actually have a case. Winehouse is said to have paid him a £250,000 pay-off following their July 2009 divorce. If the payment was not specified as a "clean-break", he may have grounds to demand more money, The Sun reports.
There is the possibility that Fielder-Civil's team will claim he needs the money for a house, as the former drug addict currently resides in a council estate flat in Leeds.
Winehouse transformed into a global superstar after the success of her 2006 album Back to Black, which won five Grammy Awards. Fielder-Civil, who inspired the heartbreaking titular track, served seven months in prison for grievous bodily harm and perverting the course of justice.
Many fans of the star, who struggled with alcoholism, drug addiction and an eating disorder, accuse Fielder-Civil for encouraging her substance abuse and living parasitically off of her fortune.
In a 2013 interview with Jeremy Kyle, Fielder-Civil admitted he regretted introducing his ex-wife to heroin, claiming her addiction became much worse when he was in jail.
Fielder-Civil has blasted his ex-wife's family for attempting to 'cash in' on her memory after plans were revealed to launch a hologram tour last year. The tour has since been reportedly shelved.
"There would be no human element to it," Fielder-Civil said on Good Morning Britain in 2018.
"I object to every opportunity that has been made since Amy died seven years ago."
Newshub.
