LOS ANGELES (SBZ) — Pull up a gavel and grab some popcorn, because the Levitating queen has officially crash-landed in federal court.
Dua Lipa, 30, filed a $15 million lawsuit against Samsung Electronics on May 8 in California federal court, accusing the tech giant of plastering her face all over TV boxes without paying a single cent. The lawsuit was first reported on May 11 and has been making waves ever since.
According to the 30-page complaint obtained by yours truly, Samsung allegedly used an image titled “Dua Lipa — Backstage at Austin City Limits, 2024” on a “significant portion” of its television boxes sold across the United States throughout 2025 and 2026. The photo, which Lipa herself owns the copyright to, was snapped before a performance at the Austin City Limits Festival. And no, she didn’t approve it. No, she wasn’t paid. And yes, she is not thrilled.
Lipa’s legal team calls it “deliberate misconduct” and a massive “theft” of her identity rights — and frankly, I’d be annoyed too if my face ended up on a cardboard box without even a courtesy text.
She Asked Nicely. Then Less Nicely. Then She Called Her Lawyer.
Here’s where this story goes from “oops” to “oh no honey, you didn’t.”
Lipa reportedly discovered her smiling face on Samsung’s packaging back in June 2025 and immediately sent a cease-and-desist demand to the company. But according to her lawyers, Samsung’s response was “dismissive and callous,” and the packaging remained on shelves for nearly an entire year.
“Samsung has repeatedly refused to do so, and instead has continued to willfully, intentionally, and purposefully infringe on Ms. Lipa’s rights for its financial benefit,” the complaint states.
In pure legalese: they ignored her. Repeatedly. For months.
“Ms. Lipa’s face was prominently used for a mass marketing campaign for a consumer product without her knowledge, without consideration, and as to which she had no say, control, or input whatsoever,” her lawyers argue. “Ms. Lipa did not allow and would not have allowed this use.”
That’s about as close as a legal document gets to saying, “Hey, Samsung, you didn’t ask. That’s rude.”
The Fan Comments That Made the Lawsuit
What makes this case particularly delicious is that Lipa’s legal team attached screenshots of social media comments from fans who essentially admitted they bought the TVs because they saw her face. One fan allegedly wrote: “I wasn’t even planning on buying a tv but I saw the box so I decided to get it”.
Another fan apparently commented: “I’d get that TV just because Dua is on it. That’s how obsessed I am. That’s how much I love her”.
And my personal favorite: “If you need anything selling just put a picture of Dua Lipa on it”.
Lipa’s lawyers argue that Samsung financially benefited from the appearance of her endorsement — and fans unwittingly provided the evidence themselves.
Ouch. That’s like getting caught with your hand in the cookie jar because you left a Yelp review saying “best cookies ever.”
Why She’s Not Just Another Celebrity Suing a Brand
Lipa’s legal team was quick to point out that she is “highly selective” in her commercial partnerships, having curated a premium brand through deals with Apple, Porsche, Versace, Puma, YSL Beauty, Bvlgari, Nespresso, and Chanel.
Let me put it this way: Dua Lipa doesn’t just slap her name on anything. She’s the kind of celebrity who turns down offers that aren’t the right fit. So when Samsung allegedly used her face to move budget TVs, her lawyers argue it “makes a mockery of her hard work” and dilutes her brand identity.
The lawsuit includes multiple legal claims: copyright infringement, trademark infringement, violation of California’s right of publicity statute, and a false endorsement claim under the federal Lanham Act.
She’s asking for at least $15 million in actual damages, plus punitive damages and legal fees. The complaint also names both Samsung Electronics America, Inc. and its South Korean parent company Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. as defendants.
Samsung’s Response (Or Lack Thereof)
When reached for comment, a Samsung spokesperson declined, citing the pending litigation.
In other words: no comment. The corporate equivalent of hiding behind the sofa when the doorbell rings.
The Big Picture
This isn’t just about a pretty face on a cardboard box. It’s about control — who gets to profit from Dua Lipa’s image, and who doesn’t.
In an era of deepfakes and AI-generated celebrity likenesses, this case feels almost refreshingly old-school: an actual, real-life photograph, printed on an actual, physical box, sold in actual, brick-and-mortar stores. No algorithms. No pixel trickery. Just a very expensive “oopsie” from one of the world’s largest electronics companies.
Dua Lipa is demanding a jury trial and a permanent injunction prohibiting Samsung from ever using her image again. Her team has also asked for a portion of the “immense” profits Samsung made from all those TVs — which, if granted, could push the final payout well beyond $15 million.
What’s Next?
The case has been filed in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California. Samsung has not yet filed a response, and the company has not publicly commented on the allegations.
Meanwhile, Dua Lipa’s latest album Radical Optimism, released in 2024, continues to stream perfectly well — preferably on a TV not sold inside a cardboard box bearing her unauthorized likeness.
Kathy Batista is a courtside reporter for Showbizztoday, a proud owner of a Samsung TV (which she bought before this lawsuit, she swears), and someone who once bought a candle because Taylor Swift’s name was on the shelf next to it. She gets it.
Sources: ABC News, BBC, The Guardian, Billboard, Good Morning America, Music Business Worldwide, Hindustan Times, New Straits Times, ANI News