Brand endorsements: they’re not all fun and games, free clothes and truckloads of money. They also come with their share of restrictions, and if you don’t keep in line with them, you can find yourself in a bit of hot water. This is the lesson Rita Ora learned when Italian shoe brand Superga took her to court after she was caught wearing sneakers from a competing label.
Ora signed on with Superga to be the face of its Spring/Summer 2013 campaign last year, and according to The Hollywood Reporter, she was not allowed to be spotted out on the town wearing shoes from any other brand—a stipulation she breached when she was photographed leaving a London nightclub in April of 2013 rocking a pair of white Converse sneakers.
As a result, the folks at Superga withheld the final two installments of her £180,000 fee (about $250,000). Ora fessed up to her misstep, agreeing that she had broken contract, but made it clear that she would not be giving up her pounds so easily. The singer asked for £90,000 plus VAT, costs, and interest—a request we’re learning today was settled out of court.
We don’t know for sure if Superga ever filled the rest of her bill, but if anything, we bet Rita will take better care not to (accidentally?) bite the hand that feeds her.
