Recently, Kim Kardashian found herself bogged down in a lawsuit with the estate of a notable artist. The controversy centers around furniture pieces purportedly attributed to the artist yet disputed by his estate. According to statements from Clements Design Inc., Kardashian’s design team, the issue was raised over a year ago.
They assert that they engaged with the Judd Foundation’s legal representatives, noting differences between the furniture in Kardashian’s office and the designs of the artist in question. However, despite attempts to resolve things amicably, tensions escalated with the sudden filing of a lawsuit.
In case you’re still confused, Kim Kardashian is being sued by the artist’s estate, claiming she promoted a bunch of furniture she claims he made. However, none of it was his.
Kim Kardashian and Designers Sued Over Alleged Knockoffs
In August 2022, a video tour of Kardashian’s Skkn by Kim company office showed her excitedly showing what she claimed to be Donald Judd furniture pieces. Walking around the luxurious beige workspace, she said, “These Donald Judd tables are amazing and totally blend in with the seats.”
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Notably, Judd died in 1994 and was a minimalist artist renowned for thoughtfully using space. However, the Judd Foundation, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to protecting the late designer’s work and legacy, is now suing her and her design team.
In its lawsuit, filed recently, the foundation alleges that Clements Design sold Kim Kardashian “knockoff versions” of Judd’s “La Mansana Table” and “Chair 84,” which retail for $90,000 and $9,000 respectively.
The lawsuit says that the furniture featured in Kardashian’s video is not authentic Donald Judd pieces. It also adds that the furniture is Judd’s two most famous designs. It further says, “While the table and chairs at the center of the lawsuit are separate designs, they were created to fit together as one piece with “harmony and integration.”
Kim Kardashian’s Video Made Private Post Lawsuit
Following the lawsuit’s filing, Kardashian’s video became private. However, remnants of it continue to circulate through various media platforms. Before its removal, the video had a staggering reach of over 3.7 million views.
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Notably, the foundation claims it tried to resolve the dispute amicably over several months. However, neither Kim Kardashian nor her designers took corrective action or removed the “fake furniture.” In response, Clements Design said they were caught off guard by the lawsuit, denying any wrongdoing.
They said, “This issue was brought to our attention over a year ago.” We communicated with the Judd Foundation’s counsel and explained to them in no uncertain terms. We noted that there were obvious key differences between the tables and chairs in Kim’s office and the Judd Foundation’s tables and chairs.”
Kim Kardashian and Team’s Denial About Judd’s Pieces
When approached for a comment, one Kardashian representative pointed to the previous statement, repeating their stance. The lawsuit included a design proposal by Clements Design in 2020 that offered furniture “in the Style of Donald Judd.”
The lawsuit presents compelling evidence. Additionally, the foundation claims to have contacted Kardashian’s publicist upon discovering the video. Notably, the publicist acknowledged the error and offered to rectify it by updating the video caption and making a social media post promoting the foundation.
However, the foundation asserts that its efforts to address the matter were opposed. Despite offering to replace the disputed furniture with original Judd pieces at a discounted rate, contact with Kardashian’s associates reportedly yielded no solution.
Celebrities Experiencing Designer Dupes
Rainer Judd, president of the foundation and daughter of the late artist, said in a statement that the furniture in the video is “irrefutably fake.” She also noted that authentic Judd designs are available “for custom order,” according to the artist’s official website.
The lawsuit states that all authentic Judd furniture “is sold under and stamped with the federally registered” Judd trademark. Kim Kardashian’s situation, if her items are indeed knockoffs, she wouldn’t be the only celebrity with designer dupes.
For instance, Gwyneth Paltrow’s home in Montecito, California, featured a wire sculpture initially attributed to Ruth Asawa by Architectural Digest in 2022. However, it was corrected later to credit D’lisa Creager, who learned her wire-looping technique from Asawa’s daughter. Similarly, celebrities sporting fake designer apparel keep surfacing on Instagram.
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