Tisha Campbell has issued a cease and desist letter to a company selling Martin and House Party merchandise with her likeness without her permission. Several of the items have her face on them as the character Gina.
Tisha took to social media to call out a company named Head Gear Classics for producing merchandise with her image on it. According to Tisha, the company also failed to get permission from Martin and House Party owners, respectively.
In the Instagram video, she also shared a glance at the product in question. It is a black t-shirt with Gina, her former character, front and center.
The actress placed a green caption over the video that said, “Cease and Desist YOU BIG DUMMY!!!”
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“Chileeeee! It is not just about my image…Head Gear classics will also have to contend with photographers who took the photos and owns them as well as the companies that own the Martin show and House Party proper…you poor thing,” Tisha wrote.
Tisha said she found out when a friend of hers stopped into a store at the mall and happened to see the t-shirts with her face on them and alerted her about them.
Speaking directly to the person who owns the manufacturing company, Tisha said, “My brother. I’m all for the come-up. I truly, truly am. But, you can’t just put somebody’s face on a shirt without their permission and then pocket everything.”
Much of the merchandise shown in the video had the famous saying, “Damn, Gina!” on it.
Other shirts had cartoon depictions of Tisha and Martin Lawrence on them. There were also jackets and jerseys.
Tisha claimed that the manufacturer told the store owner that they were honoring her by using her likeness on the apparel.
She was also very clear that she had no animosity towards the store owner nor its employees because it is not fair.
Manufacturing products linked to a group of writers, producers, talent and production companies requires due diligence because of intellectual property laws.
Tisha summed it up perfectly, however. If someone wants to honor their favorite actor or show on merchandise, honor them with a check.