Anna Nicole Smith Estate Hits Von Dutch with Suit Over Unauthorized Image Use
Grab your quadruple espresso because this legal showdown is more caffeinated than my Monday morning! Anna Nicole Smith Inc., the company that guards every ounce of the late bombshell’s image and legacy, just filed a blazing lawsuit against fashion label Von Dutch—alleging they’ve been hawking Anna’s likeness on hats, tees, and even that now-infamous pink-lettered cowboy hat without a single permission slip in sight.
Per court documents filed June 27, 2025 in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, Anna Nicole Smith Inc. claims Von Dutch never scored the rights to use her name, face, or flair—despite a cheeky April Facebook post touting “Our iconic Anna Nicole Smith hat from her original VD collection.” TMZ dug up the post and a source close to the estate confirms that Anna never inked a deal for this so-called “VD collection,” nor authorized the image that shows her rocking a black cowboy hat during a 2004 Tonight Show with Jay Leno appearance. Cue the record scratch!
Here’s where it gets juicier: Anna did partner with Von Dutch back in her runway days, but according to the lawsuit, “no written contract—or even a handshake agreement—permitted Von Dutch to keep using Anna’s image after her untimely passing in 2007.” The estate points out that Anna’s daughter, Dannielynn Birkhead, only reached adulthood last year, so the publicity rights have been fiercely protected under California law ever since. The filing accuses Von Dutch of blatant misappropriation, demanding disgorgement of any profits, statutory damages, and a permanent injunction to cease all unlicensed merch.
In the complaint, Anna Nicole Smith Inc. underscores the brand’s “brazen exploitation” of her posthumous fame, noting that fans and fashionistas were duped into thinking this revival was officially blessed by Anna herself. Yet a quick replay of her Jay Leno clip (hello, YouTube deep dive!) shows zero mention of a hats collection—because, spoiler alert, there never was one. According to court records, Von Dutch’s founders and marketing team apparently left the fine print on the cutting room floor.
So far, Von Dutch reps have gone Radio Silence, and the estate’s lawyers are parading these legal papers like they’re hot screening passes. We’ve pinged both sides for official comments, but as of press time, all we’ve got is the sound of crickets—and my fifth cup of coffee refilling itself.
Whew! My heart’s racing faster than Anna’s heels on a catwalk. I swear, I could spill beans on this all day. Stay tuned, because if Von Dutch fights back, we’ll be here brewing the next round of details. I’m already shaking with anticipation—pass the sugar and let’s see what happens next!
Sources: Celebrity Storm and TMZ, U.S. District Court Filings
Attribution: Creative Commons Licensed
