Drake Sues Jeweler Over Diamond Necklace, Demands Company Stop Using His Face In Ads
Dec. 31 2021, Published 4:03 p.m. ET
Drake has rushed to court demanding an injunction against a jewelry company using his face to promote their brand — despite the rapper currently being in a war over money with them.
According to court documents obtained by Radar, the God’s Plan rapper is suing a Hong Kong-based jewelry company named Gemma LTD and its owner, Ori Vechler. He accuses the defendants of using his photos of him to promote their company on social media.
In court docs, Drake explains he has one of the most recognizable and commercially valuable names and likenesses in the world. “He has worked extremely hard to build an ever-expanding empire in the music, entertainment, fashion and design industries,” his lawyer writes.
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Drake says he reached out to Gemma via Instagram to order three pieces. He purchased a pair of diamond earrings, a diamond ring, and an iced-out necklace. The rapper says he paid half of the amount due as a down payment. The items were personally delivered to him in 2020.
The rapper says he is “not satisfied with the jeweler for several reasons."
He claims the pieces are not of the nature and quality of what he believed he was buying. Drake attempted to return the items, but the defendants have refused.
Instead, “starting in late December 2019 and early 2020” without any license, Drake says the jeweler started using his name and likeness in ads. He points to an Instagram post the company made of him wearing the jewelry.
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Drake claims the jeweler posted numerous photos on their account and even made it appear he had a collection with them.
His attorney writes, “While Drake was briefly a Gemma customer, his status as such did not also include giving Gemma the right to use his name and likeness in a licensing campaign for its products. This is especially the case when Drake is actually dissatisfied with what he received from Gemma, has been attempting to return it and obtain a refund (to no avail), and never would want his name or likeness associated with Vechler or Gemma, or for his fans and the public to think that he is somehow affiliated with them or endorses them.”
Drake is accusing the company of “willfully and without authorization” using his “name, image, likeness and persona in the Posts for commercial purposes, to advertise Gemma’s brand and to promote the sale of Gemma’s products.” He wants the court to award him all profits made off this conduct. Drake also wants an injunction ordering the company to cease using his image or name.
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Further, he wants the court to order the jeweler to order Drake is under no obligation to accept and pay for the pieces and Gemma must “accept his return of the jewelry and refund him what he paid as a down payment.”