In a surprising turn of events, Anna Delvey, the infamous faux heiress, has enlisted her legal team to confront Walmart.
The retail giant recently started selling apparel featuring Delvey’s name and likeness, prompting her lawyers to issue a cease-and-desist letter.
Known in real life as Anna Sorokin, Delvey made headlines for her elaborate scams that deceived various businesses and individuals out of over $250,000 between 2013 and 2017.
Now, she’s turning the tables by protecting her brand, which she cleverly trademarked just before her release from prison.
Her attorney, Duncan Levin, brought attention to the situation, revealing that over 50 products emblazoned with “Anna Delvey” can currently be found on Walmart’s website.
These items include T-shirts, hoodies, and even clothing inspired by images from her highly publicized 2019 trial.
Levin characterized Walmart’s actions as a severe breach of Delvey’s federally registered trademark, calling it an “egregious” violation.
He emphasized that this infringement poses significant harm to Sorokin’s reputation and burgeoning brand.
The trademark, registered under Anna Delvey LLC with the United States Patent and Trademark Office, was filed shortly before her release from confinement in September 2022.
It covers a wide array of clothing items, such as dresses, hats, and shorts, all associated with her infamous persona.
Sorokin’s legal letter detailed alarming findings from a search of Walmart’s online store, which revealed at least 53 listings for items using her trademark.
Among these were sweatshirts and humorous T-shirts that explicitly mention her name, prompting a demand for immediate action.
In the cease-and-desist notice, Delvey requested that Walmart halt all sales and advertising of these products and provide a complete account of sales related to the infringing merchandise.
This includes specifics on the number of items sold, revenue generated, and inventory details.
Walmart was given a tight deadline of 24 hours to comply with the demands laid out in the letter.
Failure to respond adequately by November 20, 2024, could lead to legal proceedings against the retail giant.
Delvey has been busy on the legal front lately; she previously took issue with comments made on “The View” regarding her alleged unpaid debts to victims.
After Whoopi Goldberg suggested that Delvey still owes money, her lawyer quickly asserted that all restitution had been satisfied.
Interestingly, this isn’t just a publicity stunt for Delvey.
Since her release, she has been actively rebranding herself as a fashion insider, even establishing her own PR firm, the OutLaw Agency, in collaboration with industry veteran Kelly Cutrone.
As the legal battle unfolds, it raises questions about celebrity branding and intellectual property rights, especially for figures like Delvey who have complicated histories.
While Walmart has yet to respond to inquiries about the situation, it’s clear that Anna Delvey is not one to back down when it comes to her hard-earned identity.
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