When one’s star shines as bright as Rihanna‘s copycats are a dime a dozen.
Alas, that fact came as no comfort to the star when she touched in Barbados and was horrified to see her fans sporting “alternative versions” of her widely successful Puma collection.
What happened she launched a mission to find out where said knock-offs came from?
A surprise not even Miss Cleo could have foreseen.
It all started when the ‘Diamonds‘ singer began to spot cheap imitations of her line in her hometown during a recent trip. Horrified, she alerted her representative at Puma and urged them to find out where the phoney products were coming from.
With that, the representative flew into Barbados where she discovered that the products were being sold out of stores in a place named Swan Street and with help from locals found herself at the front door of a man named Leroy Fitzgerald.
A man, who is none other than Rihanna’s uncle.
It’s true.
Leroy Fitzgerald Brathwaite appeared in the District “A” Magistrates’ Court yesterday where he pleaded not guilty to the charge that in trade or in commerce as a supplier, on May 29, 2017, he falsely represented that 11 pairs of slippers and 13 T-shirts were of a particular standard, style or model, to wit, the brand Puma, contrary to the Consumer Protection Act Cap 326D.
He also denied that in trade or commerce, he engaged in conduct, to wit, exposed for sale goods bearing the trademark known as Puma which would mislead the public as to the nature of the goods.
Brathwaite was further charged that with a view to gain for himself or another, or with intent to cause loss to another and without the consent of the registered owner of a trademark Puma, he exposed for sale goods which bear the sign Puma, and which were likely to be mistaken for the registered trademark Puma. That charge was also dated May 29, 2017.
The case is ongoing.
Rihanna is yet to respond publicly.