Reality TV star Kim Kardashian is suing Old Navy over a commercial video featuring a lookalike who bears a strong resemblance to her. Kim Kardashian has filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles federal court against Old Navy and its parent company, Gap, claiming they have violated her publicity rights by using the lookalike to promote their products.
At the core of the Old Navy lawsuit is a commercial titled ‘Super C-U-T-E’ featuring a pretty brunette actress named Melissa Molinaro, who looks far too much like Kardashian, at least according to her. The Old Navy Super Cute video has been viewed over 2 million times on YouTube.
According to Kim Kardashian’s legal team, the resemblance between the woman in the Old Navy video, released five months ago, and their client is just too much. Kardashian “has invested substantial time, energy, finances and entrepreneurial effort in developing her considerable professional and commercial achievements and success, as well as developing her popularity, fame, and prominence in the public eye,” the lawsuit claims. According to Kardashian’s lawyers, Old Navy and Gap have infringed on Kardashian’s public image by using the lookalike model in their advertisements.
The lawsuit against Old Navy is asking for unspecified damages and seeks to prevent the company from ever using a Kardashian lookalike again. Meanwhile, the lookalike in question, Melissa Bolinaro, expressed her frustration over the whole thing on her Twitter feed. “Were [sic] still talking about this,” she posted. “Some people have too much time on [their] hands.”
Our favorite comment related to this store comes from user ‘GarretMurtagh’ on the YouTube page for the Old Navy advertisement video:
“Dear Kim… No one’s [sic] confused. This girl is so much prettier than you. Get over yourself. You don’t hold the trademark on brunette and curvy. Love, Reggie Bush and Old Navy.”