Kendall Jenner reacts to $1.8 million lawsuit by Italian brand

PARIS (Reuters) – A representative of US top model Kendall Jenner fired back on Wednesday against a $1.8 million suit from Italian label Liu Jo, saying a claim that she had breached terms of a modelling contract was “without merit.”

At the centre of the dispute is a fashion shoot that was delayed by the COVID-19 emergency, with the contemporary Italian fashion label alleging Kendall Jenner turned down proposals to reschedule it, according to a complaint filed by Liu Jo in the US District Court in Manhattan late on Monday

The model has “continually offered Liu Jo alternative dates and locations to fulfil an agreement that was forced to be delayed because of the coronavirus pandemic,” a spokesperson from The Society Management, Jenner’s agent, said in an emailed statement.

“Jenner has willingly offered to complete services honouring her commitments,” the statement added.

Liu Jo is seeking at least $1.8 million in damages, according to the complaint.

Liu Jo, which the complaint says has already paid $1.35 million to Jenner for services covered by the 2019 contract, said Kandell Jenner only took part in the first of two planned photoshoots and that they obtained no response from Jenner after trying to re-schedule the second one multiple times.

The label said it learned that Kandell Jenner was taking part in a photoshoot for another fashion brand and offered to split the cost of her private flight but was turned down.