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Graffiti Artist Files Lawsuit Against Katy Perry's MET Gala Dress

Staff Writer

"[Rimes'] credibility as a graffiti artist was compromised by inclusion in such a crass and commercial publicity stunt."

L-R: The original mural, Katy Perry at the MET Gala and the dress on the runway, as used in the official complaint
L-R: The original mural, Katy Perry at the MET Gala and the dress on the runway, as used in the official complaint
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The Moschino gown that Katy Perry wore to the MET Gala has left the fashion label, along with its designer Jeremy Scott, in hot water as Brooklyn-based graffiti artist Rime sues the designer for using his artwork without authorisation.

Rime, also known as Joseph Tierney, created the Vandal Eyes artwork in 2012 for street art collective The Seventh Letter, and in a complaint filed in a California court, alleges that Moschino and Jeremy Scott used the mural, along with his name and signature, on the dress worn by Perry at the highly publicised MET Gala. 

The complaint states, "If this literal misappropriation were not bad enough, Moschino and Jeremy Scott did their own painting over that of the Artist -- superimposing the Moschino and Jeremy Scott brand names in spray-paint style as if part of the original work."

The statement further claims that, "Not only did Ms. Perry and Defendant Scott advertise, wear, and display the clothing at the event, they arrived at the event in a spray painted Rolls Royce, and even carried around Moschino-branded cans of fake spray paint during the event, as if Defendants were responsible for the artwork."

Rime's attorney added, "The only person harmed was Rime. Not only was his art exploited by Defendants, but his credibility as a graffiti artist was compromised by inclusion in such a crass and commercial publicity stunt."

The lawsuit also cites The Wall Street Journal as reporting that the Italian fashion house experienced a 16 percent revenue increase in 2015's first quarter, presumably due to publicity of Perry wearing the dress. 

Rime is a renowned and respected graffiti artist, hired by Disney in 2008 to reinterpret the iconic Mickey House character. He has also featured in exhibits at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles.