Fresh off a drawn out “battle” with 50 Cent and celebrating his latest #1 album, Rick Ross now finds himself embroiled in another celebrity “beef.”
This time, the Miami emcee has drawn the ire of the prestigious fashion company Louis Vuitton, who launched a public letter to Rick Ross and XXL concerning the magazine’s May 2009 cover.
The issue features Ross in what a company manufacturer and spokesman derided as fake Louis Vuitton shades.
“We were dismayed to see the cover of the May 2009 issue of XXL Magazine, which features a photo of Rick Ross wearing a pair of sunglasses prominently featuring counterfeit Louis Vuitton trademarks,” stated Louis Vuitton Malletier Michael D. Pantalony. “Because the photo has generated considerable confusion among your readers and Louis Vuitton customers among others, we feel it is important to clarify several points.”
Louis Vuitton has made a concerted effort to cut down on the mass counterfeiting on their products.
Along with confining the majority of their products to small, personalized boutiques, the company is aggressive in exposing counterfeit marketing in all forms of media.
“The first is that the sunglasses Mr. Ross is wearing were not made by Louis Vuitton, and in fact, are counterfeit,” Pantalony clarified. “Louis Vuitton did not grant permission to Mr. Ross or to whoever did make the sunglasses to use our trademarks. The second is that no affiliation, sponsorship or association exists between Rick Ross or XXL and Louis Vuitton. The third is that counterfeiting is illegal.”
Since Hip-Hop culture’s inception, Louis Vuitton has consistently over generations remained a popular brand, being worn and name-checked by Grandmaster Flash, the Fat Boys, Big Daddy Kane, Diddy, and Kanye West.
Last year, Pharrell Williams served a sponsor for Vuitton’s extravagant Blason jewelry line.
At press time, Rick Ross could not be reached for comment.