Billionaire Kim Kardashian, 44, is facing a lawsuit related to false statements and the promotion of counterfeit furniture, which has affected her brand’s reputation.
On March 27, The Judy Foundation—the organization dedicated to preserving the legacy of the late sculptor Donald Judd—filed a lawsuit against Kim Kardashian in federal court in California. The plaintiff claims that in 2022, Kim posted a video on YouTube showcasing the office of her skincare line SKKN, featuring the La Mansana Table 22 and Chair 84 designed by Judd. However, these items are actually products of Clements Design (Los Angeles), not from The Judd Foundation.
The lawsuit argues that Kim Kardashian’s statements could mislead consumers about the origin of the furniture set in the video and suggest that the two parties had collaborated. The Judy Foundation also has strict regulations prohibiting customers from using their furniture for marketing and advertising purposes.
A representative from The Judd Foundation stated that they contacted Kim Kardashian three days after the video was posted. She apologized and suggested adding a note and editing the content, but the organization did not agree. They wanted Kim to remove the video and publicly explain the issue. Kim Kardashian refused, leaving The Judd Foundation with no choice but to file a lawsuit.
“Our brand does not want to be confused with the products mentioned by Kim Kardashian. We respect what she does, but we do not want to be involved,” said the attorney for The Judy Foundation to the New York Times on March 27. The video, which garnered over 3.6 million views, has since been taken down from the platform.
Additionally, The Judd Foundation accused Clements Design of unfair competition, copyright infringement, and trademark violations for imitating Donald Judd’s designs. In an interview with the New York Times on March 27, Rainer Judd, the late artist’s daughter, emphasized that the furniture is an integral part of her father’s legacy, stating, “The presence of counterfeit items will undermine the integrity of the original works left by my father.”
The original La Mansana Table 22 made of wood costs approximately $90,000, while each accompanying chair is sold for around $9,000. Representatives of the organization noted that they have only sold three tables and 350 chairs in the last 15 years. Rainer Judd indicated that the furniture plays a significant role in The Judy Foundation’s revenue, accounting for nearly half of the brand’s income.
As of now, Kim Kardashian has not commented on the lawsuit, but Clements Design has rebutted the claims made by The Judd Foundation, stating they are unfounded. The company argues that there are clear differences in the designs and expressed surprise at the accusations, noting that they had made efforts to resolve the issue amicably but received no feedback from the organization.
The Judd Foundation is also surprised by the reasoning from Clements Design, as they are the ones who have continually sought explanations from the company and Kim Kardashian.
