Walmart Sued By Kanye West For ‘Virtually Indistinguishable’ YEEZY Knockoffs
Image via Farfetch
As ubiquitous as Walmart is in the US, not everyone knows it allows third-party sellers on its website – many products which aren’t available in-store can be purchased online.
One such listing on its site has landed the retail giant in hot water with Kanye West, who is suing Walmart for allowing bootleg YEEZY Foam Runners to be sold on its platform.
According to Input, numerous fake YEEZY Foam Runners have been spotted on the site, with a pair going for US$22 to US$34. The real sandals retail for US$75, but have a long waiting list due to their cult status in the streetwear world.
The lawsuit alleges that the YEEZY brand had sent Walmart “multiple warnings” to stop sales of the fake “virtually indistinguishable” footwear. Notably, some news outlets also reported that the YEEZY Foam Runners knockoffs were still available on Walmart’s site after the lawsuit was filed on June 24, but the search results now come up empty.
In a statement released by Walmart, the company said it will “take allegations like this seriously and are reviewing the claim. We will respond in courts as appropriate after we have been served with the complaint.”
The suit claims that the YEEZY brand has lost “hundreds of millions” due to bootlegs, though it’s difficult to estimate exactly how much damage has been done by these third-party Walmart listings.
[via Input, cover image via Farfetch]
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