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Ay, caramba: Cardi B faces copyright lawsuit over Marge Simpson costume

Cardi B has been threatened with legal action over her use of an artwork depicting Marge Simpson in a bottom-revealing dress. 

The lawsuit was threatened by Italian artist Alexsandro Palombo, whose 2013 depiction of The Simpsons character in a Thierry Mugler dress appears strikingly similar to that worn by Cardi B for Halloween. The rapper posted her costume to Instagram at the height of spooky season last month, wearing what looks like Mugler’s back-facing dress in front of a hung artwork of the Palombo original. 

In response to the rapper’s similar-looking outfit, Palombo said he’d “wrote to Mrs Cardi B and collaborators” but has received “no answer.” He continued: “how come that they never contacted us for authorisation to use the artwork and didn’t mention or credit the artist, violating Meta policy about intellectual property rights.” Palombo took particular offence given the intent of the 2013 original, which was said to focus on themes of gender equality. 

Credit: Alexsandro Palombo

 

 

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“Cardi B and her collaborators have used my artwork without any authorization, debasing its original meaning and only to amplify their image with a clear commercial purpose that has nothing to do with that path of social awareness that has always characterized my works,” Palombo said. “(Extra)ordinary people are welcome to use my artworks for personal and non-commercial purposes. To everyone else: Stop stealing [from] artists.

While Palombo has yet to formally issue a copyright infringement lawsuit, he is requesting that Cardi B publish a follow-up post citing his original work, and is also demanding compensation. Palombo’s lawyers told Sky News that Cardi’s post “[defied] of the most elementary rules on copyright and Instagram policies.” The rapper has yet to respond to the accusation.

 

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Cardi B wasn’t the only celebrity to incarnate the iconic matriarch, who’s been a staple of The Simpsons family for its entire 33-season run. Fellow musician Lizzo also donned the yellow skin and blue beehive updo for her Halloween costume, and so too did Jade Thirlwall of the pop group Little Mix. Head here for a full rundown of this year’s best celebrity Halloween costumes.