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A Memphis, TN, restaurant owes NBA star Ja Morant a significant sum of money.
Commercial Appeal reports that the Memphis Grizzlies point guard became a brand ambassador for The Wing Guru chain of restaurants in 2022, announcing the partnership via X (formerly Twitter) on March 17, 2022.
“Honored to be a Brand Ambassador for @TheWingGuru. I always choose the Guru when I get wings #TheWingGuru #BrandAmbassador #GuruGang,” he wrote on X.
The agreement between both parties permitted the restaurant to use Morant’s image for advertising in exchange for a payment of $6,250 a month, adding up to about $75,000 per year. However, according to Commercial Appeal, Morant’s attorneys allege that he had not received any payments starting approximately four months after the contract signing, though the company continued to profit off his likeness in locations such as Nashville, TN; Houston, TX; and Dallas, TX.
Morant’s attorneys had sent a letter by November 2022 and requested for “the company to true up” and pay the over $43,000 due to Morant. However, they claim they were ghosted by the restaurant.
The petition read: “Mr. Morant followed up via email, to which Wing Guru replied, ‘You guys will get the entire $75k by Jan. 1st. Relax. Thanks for your understanding.’ But Wing Guru made no payments by Jan. 1, 2023, or at any other time.”
The petition also stated that while Morant’s earnings from the deal were “relatively small,” “the theft and dilution of Mr. Morant’s name and likeness — currently the subject of a signature shoe deal with Nike — constitute astronomical losses.”
The arbitrator in the case, retired federal judge Bernice Donald, ended up ruling in favor of Morant and states that the restaurant must compensate him in the amount of $365,525.30. The arbitrator also granted an injunction against Wing Guru, which means the restaurant is no longer permitted to benefit from Morant’s name, image, or likeness.
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