Marilyn Monroe Estate Sues Lingerie Line: What Took So Long
The Marilyn Monroe estate is suing Marilyn Monroe Intimates. The late Hollywood actress’ brand and image is being used to sell the lingerie line and now her estate is suing the line to get them to stop.
The estate claims that Marilyn Monroe Intimates is trying to profit off the blonde bombshell’s image and fame, which they never agreed to. They believe the brand is confusing customers into thinking that the lingerie is an official Marilyn Monroe licensed product, according to a new report via TMZ. According to court documents obtained by the celebrity gossip blog, the brand features Marilyn Monroe’s face on its website, packaging, and price tags. The estate has claimed that they issued several warnings, but the company has not obliged.
The Marilyn Monroe estate is suing in order to stop future sales, collect profits from previous sales, and stop all merchandise featuring Monroe’s image. The Marilyn Monroe Intimates brand sells bras, panties, and shapewear. The official website includes the quote, “Beauty and Femininity are ageless and cannot be contrived, and glamour cannot be manufactured,” which Monroe once said.
The footer of the official website also says the following:
“Marilyn Monroe™; Rights of Publicity and Persona Rights: The Estate of Marilyn Monroe, LLC.
Photo by Milton H. Greene © 2016 Joshua Greene. marilynmonroe.com.”
Marilyn Monroe Intimates is aware that they are using the image and face of Monroe. It looks as if the Marilyn Monroe estate approved of them to use her image on their website and branding. Little is known about the brand except for a blog post from Lateresa A. Jones from her website Building Hope Blog, from Jan. 26, 2013. She wanted to know the face behind the lingerie brand after she purchased some underwear.
“I wanted to know, who is Marilyn Monroe Intimates, LLC,” she wrote.
Like everyone else, Jones could not find any information about the company. Instead, she found information on who owns the Marilyn Monroe estate, which turns out to be Berniece Inez Gladys Baker, who is the half-sister of Monroe.
“Berniece did not know she had another sibling until she was 19 after receiving a letter from Gladys; they met for the first time in 1944. Berniece worked for many years at the University of Florida. Her and Mona Rae’s book, My Sister Marilyn (1994), not only shed new light on their famous relation, but on the family’s history of mental illness.”
According to Jones, the estate of Marilyn Monroe belongs to her only living relative, who is also her half-sister. As for Marilyn Monroe Intimates, it’s not clear who runs that brand. More information should come as this story develops.
The brand is available at numerous retailers, including Amazon, Zulilly, Macy’s, and T.J. Maxx. The story on the battle between the Marilyn Monroe estate and Marilyn Monroe Intimates is developing.
In similar Marilyn Monroe news, the historical Beverly Hills home featured in The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story is now on the market for $40 million, according to Extra TV. Fun fact about the property: Marilyn Monroe once lived in the estate’s guest house. It was built by Warner Bros. co-founder Harry Warner, who reportedly “wanted to create his own piece of paradise during filmdom’s Golden Age.” Check out the home in the video below.
The house sits right next to the Beverly Hills Hotel, just minutes away from Rodeo Drive. It also sits on an expansive 1.25-acre lot and includes large grounds ponds, a pool, and a tennis court. The 12,245 square foot property has seven bedrooms and seven bathrooms. For more information on the home, visit JoyceRey.com and JadeMills.com.
[Featured Image by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images]
