Mattel Sues Rap Snacks Over Barbie Trademark For Nicki Minaj’s Barbie-Que Chips

The Barbie isn’t involved in the lawsuit, but there is a lawsuit pending over her Barbie trademark. Rap Snacks x Nicki Minaj launch caused some uproar with Mattel.

According to AllHipHop, Mattel filed a lawsuit against Rap Snacks on August 8, alleging the food company did not clear the Barbie trademark for use for the collab with the rapper. Minaj is not listed as a defendant in the lawsuit.

Mattel’s lawsuit cites “one count of federal unfair competition and false designation of origin, one count of federal trademark dilution, and a singular count of state unfair competition violation.”

And Mattel clarified that it made sure to tell Minaj’s rep to clear the use for a trademark, but they did not.

“Rap Snacks never requested or received any such permission from Mattel. Rap Snacks proceeded to launch its product line anyway,” the suit reads.

“Rap Snacks made the deliberate and calculated choice to launch a new product line using Mattel’s famous Barbie trademark. That choice, made without any prior notice to Mattel, was unlawful.”

The company is suing for punitive damages and seeking all profits from Rap Snacks’ Barbie-Que Chips to be awarded to them and legal fees paid.

This is probably the least of Minaj’s worries as she’s preparing to return to the 2022 VMAs stage to perform and receive a Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award on August 28.

On Friday, the Queen dropped the highly anticipated song, “Super Freaky Girl,” sampling Rick James’ “Super Freak.”