Vogue’s publisher, Condé Nast, filed a $4 million lawsuit against Drake and 21 Savage. The duo promoted their new album, “Her Loss” and created fake issues of the famous fashion magazine with their photo on the cover.
The faux copies went viral online and were also given to people on the streets in selected areas like Atlanta, Los Angeles, and Miami. Further, fake posters were also put up in New York City. Drake himself even tweeted about it, writing, “Me and my brother on newsstands tomorrow!! Thanks @voguemagazine and Anna Wintour for the love and support on this historic moment.”
According to Page Six, the lawsuit was filed in the Southern District of New York this week. On October 31, Condé Nast has already sent a cease and desist order to Drake and his team demanding that they stop the “unauthorized use of the Vogue trademark by removing the Instagram post, ceasing any distribution of this ‘magazine,’ and issuing a public statement clarifying that this was not an actual cover of Vogue.”
The suit also mentioned that the faux mags were a “complete, professionally reprinted reproduction of the October issue of Vogue,” though some pages were “modified to superimpose promotional logos for Defendants’ Album. Others include images of [veteran Vogue editor] Anna Wintour that were not in the real issue, and in one case was doctored to interpose an image of Drake.”
Further, the filing alleged that “Anna Wintour did not authorize the use of her image to promote Defendants’ Album.” Further, it argued that the fake mags “exploit” Vogue’s trademark and caused “widespread public confusion.”
The suit revealed that Condé Nast is seeking $4 million for damages.
In addition to the fake Vogue cover, Drake and 21 Savage also promoted their new album with fake press hits. For instance, they included a fake Howard Stern interview as an “SNL” performance. Stern said reacted by saying, “He edited himself in to look like he’s in our studio… Drake did such a good job that the news outlets are reporting on it as if it’s real.”
However, it’s not the same with Vogue. An insider told Page Six, “Vogue wasn’t happy. Every other outlet was happy and took it on the chin. It wasn’t done with malice.”
