Fashion retailer Forever 21 and beauty company Riley Rose are facing the $10 million lawsuit filed by pop singer Ariana Grande, claiming that the companies are using her fame and influence to advertise their products.
The real Ariana Grande filed the complaint on Monday, September 2, which accuses Forever 21 and Riley Rose are misappropriating her name, image, likeness and music in a website and social media campaign early this year and even hired a model with “strikingly similar” looks. It states that at least 30 images and videos were misappropriated by the two companies, including the use of audio and lyrics from her latest No. 1 single "7 Rings."
In the case Grande-Butera et al v Forever 21 Inc et al, U.S. District Court, Central District of California, No. 19-07600, the singer is seeking damages for copyright and trademark infringement, false endorsement, and violating her right of publicity.
According to Grande, she was previously in talks with Forever 21 over a joint marketing campaign but the deal broke down because the company would not pay her enough. The celebrity is known for longer-term endorsements that generate millions of dollars in fees.
While Riley Rose is yet to comment, Forever 21 has released a statement saying “Forever 21 does not comment on pending litigation as per company policy. That said, while we dispute the allegations, we are huge supporters of Ariana Grande and have worked with her licensing company over the past two years. We are hopeful that we will find a mutually agreeable resolution and can continue to work together in the future.”
Forever 21 was established in 1984 by billionaire couple Do Won and Jin Sook Chang and has 815 stores in 57 countries. Their daughters, Linda and Esther Chang started Riley Rose in 2017.
