Billionaire Kim Kardashian, 44, is facing a lawsuit for allegedly making false statements and promoting counterfeit furniture, which has reportedly damaged her brand’s reputation.
On March 27, The Judd Foundation—an organization that preserves the legacy of late sculptor Donald Judd—filed a lawsuit against Kim Kardashian in California Federal Court. The lawsuit claims that in 2022, Kim posted a YouTube video featuring the office of her skincare company, SKKN, in which she showcased the “La Mansana Table 22” and “Chair 84” chairs, designed by Judd. However, the furniture shown in the video was actually produced by Clements Design, a Los Angeles-based company, not The Judd Foundation.
The Judd Foundation argues that Kardashian’s claims misled viewers about the origins of the furniture and created confusion about a possible collaboration between the two sides. The foundation also maintains a strict policy prohibiting customers from using their furniture for marketing or advertising purposes.
Three days after the video was posted, The Judd Foundation reached out to Kim Kardashian. While she apologized and suggested adding captions and editing the content, the foundation insisted that she delete the video and publicly clarify the situation. When Kardashian refused, the foundation pursued legal action.
“Our brand doesn’t want to be associated with the products Kim Kardashian mentioned. While we respect her work, we don’t want to be involved,” said a lawyer for The Judd Foundation in an interview with The New York Times on March 27. The video, which had garnered over 3.6 million views, has since been removed from YouTube.
The Judd Foundation also accused Clements Design of unfair competition, copyright, and trademark infringement, alleging that the company imitated Donald Judd’s original designs. Rainer Judd, the late artist’s daughter, expressed concern in an interview with The New York Times, stating, “The appearance of fakes damages the integrity of my father’s original works.”
The original La Mansana Table 22, made of wood, is priced at $90,000, while each accompanying chair costs around $9,000. Over the past 15 years, the foundation has only sold three tables and 350 chairs. Rainer Judd emphasized the importance of furniture sales to the foundation’s revenue, accounting for nearly half of their income.
While Kardashian has yet to comment on the lawsuit, Clements Design has dismissed the foundation’s claims, stating that the designs are distinctly different. They expressed surprise at the accusations, claiming they attempted to resolve the issue amicably but received no response from The Judd Foundation.
The foundation countered Clements Design’s statement, asserting that they had repeatedly sought explanations from both the design company and Kim Kardashian.
Donald Judd (1928-1994) was a renowned American sculptor and a leading figure in the minimalist movement. His works have been displayed in prestigious exhibitions, including the Museum of Modern Art (New York) and Tate Modern (London).
Kim Kardashian, born in 1980, is an American reality TV star best known for Keeping Up With The Kardashians. She has a massive following on Instagram, with more than 100 million followers. As of 2022, Forbes estimates her net worth at $1.7 billion. She founded the fashion brand SKIMS in 2019 and launched the skincare line SKKN in 2022. Kardashian was married to Kanye West from 2014 to 2021, and they share four children.
