This archive report was first published on 4 September 2019.
Published on September 4, 2019, US pop star Ariana Grande has taken fashion retailer Forever 21 to court for allegedly using her trademark style to promote its products without permission.
Grande, who has 163 million Instagram followers, is seeking $10 million in damages over claims the brand created an online campaign with striking similarities to her music videos, such as '7 Rings,' from late last year.
The lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles district court, claims the campaign was intended to trick consumers into believing Grande had endorsed Forever 21's youth-oriented products.
According to the lawsuit, even a single social media post by Grande can garner fees of several hundred thousand dollars, and her longer-term endorsement arrangements command fees in the millions of dollars.
Images from Forever 21's Instagram account cited by the lawsuit showed a model wearing purple camouflage clothing and a pink headband and boots similar to those worn by Grande in the '7 Rings' music video.
However, a Forever 21 statement denied the allegations, stating that the fashion firm has 'worked with (Grande's) licensing company over the past two years' and is 'hopeful that we will find a mutually agreeable resolution and can continue to work together in the future.'
