Kim Kardashian Sued For Allegedly Lying About Her Furniture Brand
Kim Kardashian is being sued by the foundation of artist Donald Judd for false endorsement after allegedly promoting what it called "knockoffs" of his furniture and claiming they were made by him.
In a lawsuit filed Wednesday, the Judd Foundation -- a non-profit group dedicated to the legacy of the late artist known for his minimalist designs -- accused Kardashian of making false claims when she described a table and chairs in her office at her skincare company SKKN by Kim as genuine Judd furniture in a 2022 YouTube video.
According to the complaint, Kardashian's table and chairs were made by Clements Design, which was also named as a defendant.
The foundation accused the Los Angeles-based interior design firm of false advertising, unfair competition, and trademark and copyright infringement for allegedly producing and selling "unauthorized knockoffs" of the Donald Judd La Mansana Table 22 and Chair 84 to Kardashian.
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(Photo : David Livingston/Getty Images)
Clements Design has since called the lawsuit meritless. Kardashian has not yet publicly addressed the claims.
It is unclear if Kardashian was aware the pieces were not Judd originals when she purchased them.
But the lawsuit alleged Kardashian promoted the pieces from Clements Design as authentic Judd furniture "even when she knew that it was not genuine."
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"If you guys are furniture people -- because I've really gotten into furniture lately -- these Donald Judd tables are really amazing and totally blend in with the seats," the shapewear mogul said in her 2022 video, according to screenshots included in the complaint.
Kardashian's YouTube video had garnered 3.7 million views before it was set to private following the lawsuit's filing this week.
(Photo : ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty Images)
The Judd Foundation alleged that Kardashian "misled" the public by claiming the tables and chairs were Judd originals and that the late artist's reputation was tarnished due to the publicity her video received.
"Consumers are likely to believe Judd Foundation and the Donald Judd brand are connected or affiliated with, or otherwise sponsored or endorsed Ms. Kardashian," the lawsuit said. "Judd Foundation categorically prohibits customers from using purchased Donald Judd furniture for marketing and promotional purposes."
The foundation wants Kardashian to delete the video, recycle or destroy the "fake furniture," and issue a statement correcting her earlier claims that they were Judd originals.
A Judd Foundation representative told The New York Times that only three genuine copies of the table, which costs $90,000, have been sold in the last 15 years. The chairs are $9,000 per piece, and each one sold is stamped and numbered by the organization.
The sales of Judd's furniture comprise nearly half the foundation's income, according to the rep.
(Photo : Getty Images/Frazer Harrison)
Responding to the lawsuit, Clements Design denied ripping off Judd.
"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 that there were obvious key differences between the tables and chairs in Kim's office and the Judd Foundation's tables and chairs," Clements Design said in a statement to TMZ.
"The Judd Foundation's prior counsel acknowledged these differences, and since then, we have not heard from them in over a year, and are now being blindsided with a lawsuit," the company added. "Efforts were made to resolve this issue amicably at the time, and the Judd Foundation was unwilling to settle on reasonable terms. These claims have absolutely no merit."
This is not the first time Kardashian has faced a lawsuit.
In 2021, she was sued by former staff of her $60 million Hidden Hills mansion for alleged unpaid wages and overtime pay.
At the time, a spokesperson for Kardashian said in a statement to Page Six that the staffers were employed by a "third-party vendor" that had been hired by the reality star, and she was "not responsible" for how the business paid their employees.
