'Real Housewives of Atlanta': Nene Leakes in Legal Dispute Over 'Girl, Bye' T-shirts
"The Real Housewives of Atlanta" did not air a new episode last Sunday, so fans were not able to tune in and see whether something might develop from Claudia and Kordell's flirtation from last week, or whether any of the housewives might get into another read off. But off the show, one of the ladies is reported to be facing some legal problems.
According to Radar, Nene Leakes has been accused of stealing Tees in the Trap's "Girl, Bye" slogan for her own t-shirt line. Tees in the Trap is a clothing line that describes itself as a "black-owned family business that creates tees referencing pop culture and the urban girl experience."
Tees in the Trap owner and designer Arsha Jones tells Radar Online, "I created the t-shirt that read 'Girl, Bye' and started selling it on my website in April 2014. Nene actually wore it on November 17, 2014, and there were photographs and I was so excited."
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Jones said that she hoped Leakes wearing her shirt would boost sales for the company, however, the Bravo star started selling her own version of the shirt. Wetpaint reports that after Jones contacted the website selling Leakes' shirts, the items were taken down from the site, but now, Leakes' lawyer is reportedly claiming that Jones stole the phrase.
In a cease and desist letter sent to Jones, Leakes' lawyer claims that the phrase is a well-known "NeNeism", but Jones refused to back down.
Jones claims that she is being "bullied" by Leakes' team.
"Nene didn't file for her trademark until the beginning of 2015," said Jones. "I've been selling my shirts for much longer than that. I'm an experienced businesswoman and I am surprised that that she didn't come up with her own design."
