Lavigne Fights Back Against Claims That She’s A Songwriting Plagiarist

Avril Lavigne is fighting back against  Chantal Kreviazuk‘s claims  that she swiped one of her tunes for her new album, ” The Best Damn Thing.”

“Chantal’s comments are damaging to my reputation and a clear defamation of my character and I am considering taking legal action,” Lavigne wrote on her website late Friday. “My decision to discontinue working with Chantal after co-writing together on my second record was simply based on the fact that we had no hits together. That is why her name is not on this record, despite her numerous attempts to be included, which were always denied. From my perspective, this is a clear case of bitterness.”

The singer also alleges that Kreviazuk e-mailed her after the music magazine hit the stands to apologize for her suggestion that the song “Contagious” on Lavigne’s latest hit album was hers. “I forgive her but I have to put the truth out there so my fans are not confused by these false accusations,” Lavigne wrote.

Lavigne, repeatedly dogged by accusations she doesn’t write her own songs, was equally miffed about being dragged into a legal battle to prove she wrote her chart-topping hit, “Girlfriend.”

A pair of U.S. songwriters allege her catchy single sounds suspiciously like a song called “I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend,” released by the Rubinoos in 1979. The American song features the upbeat chorus: “Hey, hey, you, you, I wanna be your boyfriend,” much like Lavigne’s boppy refrain: “Hey, hey, you, you, I don’t like your girlfriend.”

“I had never heard this song in my life and their claim is based on five words,” Lavigne wrote. “All songs share similar lyrics and emotions. As humans we speak one language. Simply put, I have been falsely accused of ripping their song off.”

Earlier this week Lavigne’s manager, Terry McBride, scoffed at the charges, calling the suit “baseless” and little more than a “case of legal blackmail.”

Photo Courtesy: Getty Images/Koichi Kamoshida