The Kardashians may have been able to beat one of the more recently pending lawsuits involving their endlessly-problematic Kardashian Beauty collection, but while that lawsuit was dismissed last month, another has since been filed. According to a new complaint filed by the former CEO of the famous family’s licensing company, this time, the Kardashians are on the hook for over $30 million.
John C. LaBonty, the former CEO of Boldface Group – the celebrity beauty licensing company that spearheaded the sisters’ makeup collection – filed suit in California state court last week, against Momager, Inc. (that is Kris Jenner’s corporation), and Kim, Khloe, and Kourtney Kardashian, among others, alleging that the reality television family fired him and thereafter, refused to compensate him in accordance with his stake in the company.
LaBonty claims that he is owed an amount “between $6 million and $32 million” thanks to the “5 to 9 percent stake” that he was promised by the Kardashians, despite the restructuring of Boldface in 2014 in order to avoid bankruptcy following “financial distress” connected to the initial launch of Kardashian Beauty (originally named Kardashian Khroma) in 2012, which was far from a huge success (more about that here).
LaBonty sets forth claims of breach of contract, breach of covenant of good faith and fair dealing, intentional interference with prospective economic advantage, and intentional interference with contractual relations.
Additionally – and in line with what has been set out in previous lawsuits involving the Kardashians and their makeup collection – LaBonty’s suit makes mention of how the Kardashians alleged stopped marketing, promoting or supporting the brand, despite their contractual obligations to do so.
Instead, it appears at least two of the Kardashian/Jenners – Kim and Kylie – have shifted their efforts to promoting their own individually-owned makeup collections, KKW Beauty and Kylie Cosmetics. Speaking at a Forbes conference this summer, Kim Kardashian was vocal about the shift in her personal business efforts, saying, “This year has been really exciting for me because it’s the first time I’ve moved away from having licensing deals and transitioned into being an owner.”
As noted by Forbes in June, “Kardashian promises expansion into additional makeup products and revealed plans to premiere a fragrance later in the year. It will be her first solo foray into cosmetics since licensing her name to Boldface for an ill-fated line of makeup with her sisters Khloe and Kourtney. This time, though, Kim will be in control.”
* The case is Labounty v. Momager, Inc., et al., BC676635 (Cal. Super.).
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