Another day, another merchandise screw up for Kylie and Kendall Jenner it seems. Fresh off of (well-founded) accusations that they stole a design concept from an indie designer, the duo are now being dragged for showing t-shirt images featuring rappers Notorious B.I.G. aka Chistopher Wallace and Tupac Shakur, as well as rock groups Pink Floyd, Metallica, Led Zeppelin, The Doors and Ozzy Osbourne.
The t-shirts were part of a repurposed vintage collection, which featured images of Kylie and Kendall superimposed over vintage t-shirts with photos of individuals as well as band logos.
In response to news of the product launch, Wallace’s mother, Violetta Wallace, wrote on Instagram today (June 29, 2017), “I am not sure who told @kyliejenner and @kendalljenner that they had the right to do this. The disrespect of these girls to not even reach out to me or anyone connected to the estate baffles me. I have no idea why they feel they can exploit the deaths of 2pac and my Son Christopher to sell a t-shirt. This is disrespectful , disgusting, and exploitation at its worst!!!”
One of the t-shirts also featured imagery of Ozzy Osborne, which his wife, Sharon Osborne wasn’t too happy about. “Girls, you haven’t earned the right to put your face with musical icons. Stick to what you know…lip gloss,” she wrote on Twitter not long after Wallace.
In between the posts by Wallace and Osborne, Kylie posted a statement apologizing for the t-shirts. “These designs were not well thought out and we deeply apologize to anyone that has been upset and/or offended, especially to the families of the artists,” she wrote in part, noting that all the t-shirts had been taken down from the store.
While one can perhaps understand the Jenners lifting design concepts (which is unsavory but legal), the idea they would reproduce trademarked band logos and images without going through the proper channels seems insane, not only because of how famous they are, but also because they themselves have no doubt have dealt with all sorts of people illegally selling items featuring their images.
It’s great the they apologized and pulled all the product, but at this point someone on their merchandise team needs to be fired. That and they need to find a better intellectual property lawyer.
Violetta Wallace statement
Sharone Osborne Statement
Girls, you haven’t earned the right to put your face with musical icons. Stick to what you know…lip gloss. pic.twitter.com/BhmuUVrDBn
— Sharon Osbourne (@MrsSOsbourne) June 29, 2017
Kylie and Kendall Jenner statement
— Kylie Jenner (@KylieJenner) June 29, 2017
