14 Jul Kylie and Kendall Jenner face copyright suit over Tupac T-shirt

Sisters Kylie and Kendall Jenner are facing a copyright claim from a photographer who says they used two photographs he took of the late rapper Tupac Shakur on T-shirts.

Photographer Mike Miller says the photographs were used without his permission on the T-shirts, which retailed for $125. Kylie + Kendall, the sisters’ fashion brand have said in a statement that only two of the T-shirts were sold before they were removed from distribution.

The T-shirt is one of a series featuring famous musicians, which amongst others also featured Biggie Smalls who, like Tupac, was killed in the 1990s.

His mother hit out against the T-shirts on social media, making clear that they were in no way affiliated with her son’s estate, and saying: ‘I have no idea why they feel they can exploit the deaths of 2pac and my Son Christopher to sell a t-shirt’.

Kylie and Kendall Jenner apologised, saying ‘We are huge fans of their music and it was not our intention to disrespect these cultural icons in any way.’

The entire collection has now been removed from stores and online. Nonetheless, the fashion label maintains that: ‘The allegations made are completely false and the lawsuit is baseless…There has been no infringement or violation of anyone’s rights.’, stating that the images were purchased from a company which had the right to license them.

zoom-in will report further as the case proceeds.