It has everything to do with the brand's advertising campaign
Ariana Grande is suing fashion retailer Forever 21 and its sister company Riley Rose for ten million dollars in damages for ‘misappropriating her name, image, likeness and music’ in an advertising campaign earlier this year.
According to Reuters, the 26-year-old singer filed the complaint on Monday, after Forever 21 and Riley Rose allegedly misused at least thirty images and videos – by using audio and lyrics from her single 7 Rings and by using a look-alike model – wrongly suggesting an affiliation between Grande and the retailer.
'The resemblance is uncanny,' the complaint said.
The fashion company reportedly was in talks with Ariana Grande for a marketing campaign earlier this year, but the deal fell through because they would not pay enough for ‘a celebrity of Ms. Grande’s stature,’ who with 163 million Instagram followers can charge up to six figures for a post.
Responding to the controversy, Forever 21 issued a statement. ‘Forever 21 does not comment on pending litigation as per company policy,’ the brand announced. ‘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,' the statement concludes.
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