One of America’s Leading Bridal Designers today released an emotional and deeply personal
video in response to having control of her name and her million-plus follower Instagram
account taken from her by her bridal house, JLM Couture in a contract dispute. Because of
JLM’s assertions, this designer may currently be unable to even say her own name in
association with this dispute under an emergency restraining order issued in Federal Court. The
“Say Yes to the Dress” designer has resigned, and JLM Couture is claiming that they have the
right to prevent her from using her own name in any business indefinitely.
Her Statement:
It is with a heavy heart that I announce that I have resigned my role as head designer of my labels with JLM Couture. Going forward, I will no longer be associated with any of their products, including the designs and dresses which bear my name. JLM Couture has convinced a court, for at least the time being, to prevent me from even using my own name in public in any business context, possibly even including announcing what they have done to me. The Court also granted them control of the million-plus follower Instagram account that I started in early 2012, along with my TikTok, and Pinterest accounts for their own purposes. At present, I am not even allowed to remove my personal photos or thoughts from these accounts. I am shocked, horrified, and disappointed
that JLM Couture and CEO Joseph Murphy could or would do this to me, and I wanted to be the first to tell you that I am no longer personally running those accounts, at least until this matter is resolved in court. I do believe that justice will ultimately be done, and my name will be restored to me.
In 2011, I was 25 years old when I signed an employment agreement with JLM Couture, one which JLM Coutureclaims assigned all future rights to the use of my name over to them. Although I specifically asked if I should get a lawyer to review the contract, I was told to instead direct any questions I had to Mr. Murphy. That I did so and did not have the experience or resources back then to get a lawyer was arguably my mistake; and it was the beginning of a relationship that has become progressively more difficult and manipulative. The conduct of JLM Couture and
Mr. Murphy are, in my view, aggressive and bullying towards me, and I have long considered moving on. I do not subscribe to their business ethics or the way they treat employees and others. As a result of all of this, I’ve decided that I no longer wish to work with JLM Couture… a company that no longer aligns with the human qualities that I value and respect most.
Over the past 8 1/2 years, I’ve spent so much of my personal time creating and building the Instagram account that reflects and embodies my life, interests, and inspirations. The name I chose for the account, which I cannot say in this press release, is a term of endearment that my mother has used for me since I was a small child. I have used this account to talk about my life, family, fiancée, and my beloved dogs, among many other personal topics. And now, JLM is denying me the ability to communicate with the many friends who have joined me on our shared journey, unless I get Mr. Murphy’s permission first, to make sure it is, in his words, “on brand.” JLM has decided
to turn my relationships on Instagram and other social media into purely a business venture for their own profit. They are now posting on my account, without disclosing that I am no longer behind it. And frankly, I feel violated by the idea that JLM may use my name to give you the impression that I continue to be associated with the
company, even after I have left, while, at present, JLM asserts that I cannot use my own name myself.
JLM Couture has shown its true values… that they see a young woman like me as a business opportunity and will do whatever it takes to take away my voice and even my name in order to grow their profits. They will continue to argue in court that keeping my birth name to make money is their contractual entitlement, but that does not make it morally right or, in my view, respectable. I will stand up for myself and intend to fight them with all that I can muster. I hope you will join me in demanding that JLM Couture and Mr. Murphy do what is right, respect the women who are their clients, and act in a morally conscious manner. Finally, I hope you will follow along on my interim personal Instagram account, @allthatglittersonthegram, which is the only Instagram account that reflects my true voice at this moment in time.
For more information or interview requests, please contact Brian Glicklich at Digital Strategies,
Brian@DigitalStrategies.org or 818-867-9096.
17 сен 2024
