Robert Barbera is seeking up to $50,000 (around €44,860) in damages, claiming that Ms Grand did not ask for permission or pay to use two photos he took.

Ms Grande – the most-followed woman on Instagram – allegedly posted the pictures on the platform last August.

According to court documents filed in New York, the post was liked more than three million times before she deleted it.

Mr Barbera is claiming up to $25,000 for each photograph, Sky News reports.