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Kim Kardashian suing doctor over vampire facial promotion

The reality star filmed herself getting the bloody facial back in 2013

Kim Kardashian has filed a lawsuit against a doctor based in Alabama, for allegedly using her name and likeness to promote their procedures – including the vampire facial.

Back in 2013, the reality star got a “vampire facial” during an episode of Kourtney & Kim Take Miami – but later regretted the bloody procedure.

In a post on her website, Kim said she would “never” get the facial again, because it was so “painful”.

According to E! News, Kim’s complaint is against Charles Runels and Cellular Medicine Association.

The court documents state: “Defendant Charles Runels is a doctor in Alabama. In characteristically self-promoting fashion, he describes himself alternatively as the ‘Orgasm Doctor’ and the ‘Calvin Klein of medicine.'”

“To that end, while he appears to maintain a small practice in Alabama, most of his time is spent touting the various cosmetic procedures he has purported to trademark—including, as relevant here, the Vampire Facial.”

While the documents confirmed that both Kim and Kourtney Kardashian had a vampire facial in the past, they “certainly never licensed their name in connection with the procedure.”

The documents continue: “Upon further investigation, Ms. Kardashian was horrified to discover that her name and likeness were plastered all over Runels’ website (www.vampirefacial.com).”

“Just below a post disclaiming any association with the Vampire Facial provider from which patients had contracted HIV is a photo captioned, ‘Bar [Refaeli] & Kim Receive the Vampire Facial® Procedure.'”

“When Ms. Kardashian reached out to Runels and his trademark attorney to demand that he cease using her name and likeness without her consent, he not only refused to take down the pictures of her and references to her; he had the temerity to demand that she pay him.”

“The Defendants’ use of Ms. Kardashian’s name and likeness is not, and never has been, authorized. The Defendants have never sought Ms. Kardashian’s permission to use her as a ‘face’ for their products and services, and Ms. Kardashian has never given such permission.”

“Ms. Kardashian’s actual endorsement for a nationwide campaign such as this would command a fee well into eight figures (assuming she would even agree to do such a campaign, which she most assuredly would not).”

 

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