The "Real" Cookie Lyon Is Suing "Empire" For Allegedly Stealing Her Life

A woman has sued the makers of the freakishly-watchable Empire for allegedly ripping off her life story. She must have lived one hell of a life.

Detroit's Sophia Eggleston believes the breakout character Cookie Lyon (played by Emmy nominee Taraji P. Henson) is actually based on her, and she’s seeking remuneration of $300 million from Fox and the show’s co-creators Lee Daniels and Danny Strong for their alleged thievery.

In fairness, that’s a pretty Cookie move.

Speaking to the Detroit Free Press, Eggleston explained how she was moved to file the copyright infringement suit back in May.

“The whole city was calling me. The whole city knows. They said, 'That (expletive) stole your life.' But you know what, I'm not angry at Cookie. Cookie got paid to do a job. I just want to right a wrong."

Eggleston cited both her prison time and her love of mink coats as the main similarities between herself and Cookie Lyon.

Slightly more substantial - but still - is the claim she had been working with a screenwriter to adapt her memoir The Hidden Hand as recently as 2011, and that she was meant to pitch the project to Daniels before their meeting was suddenly canned.

That screenwriter, Rita Grant Miller, is also named in the suit.

Daniels was asked about the lawsuit at Fox’s Television Critics Association panel, to which he replied dismissively, “Bye Felicia.”

He also revealed a ‘Young Cookie’ spin-off would eventually hit screens, “without question.”

Anyway, grab your popcorn, because if this whole ordeal plays out like an episode of Empire, stilettos will soon be soaring through the air like missiles.