Social media influencer Alix Earle has refuted claims that she attempted to trademark her past racist comments from AskFM, a platform where she posted anonymously in 2014, to prevent them from being shared online. In an Instagram Story, Earle expressed her regret over using a “deeply offensive” slur in those posts and acknowledged she should have issued a statement sooner. This clarification comes amid rumors on platforms like TikTok and Reddit suggesting that individuals who reposted her old comments received warnings from her legal team regarding trademark infringement.
Earle stated, “My silence allowed others to fill the void with rumors that simply aren’t true. One rumor in particular is that I tried to trademark my old posts, which is absolutely ridiculous and untrue,” she asserted, also addressing another rumor that a brand had ceased working with her, despite having no prior discussions about a collaboration.
Recently, podcast hosts Jessi Smiles and Lily Marston claimed they received an email from Earle’s legal team alleging copyright violations linked to the podcast subreddit, which they asserted they do not control. Marston explained on their episode that the email accused them of violating numerous laws, including money laundering, due to comments shared in their subreddit. Smiles commented on the absurdity of the situation, questioning how Earle could have trademarked her racist comments. While Earle has trademark protection for her name, it remains unclear whether this could apply to the screenshots of her comments or the context of their use.