Kendall Jenner accused of ripping off Austin-based tequila brand while charging TWICE the price despite being made at the same Mexican distillery… amid cultural appropriation backlash
- The KUWTK star has been accused of ripping off Austin-based tequila brand 512 that shares a similar brand name, design and logo
- 818 Tequila by Kendall, 25, is marketed as being a twice-distilled blanco that retails at $44.99
- Meanwhile Austin’s Tequila 512 – which launched in 2012 – is a triple-distilled blanco and is priced online at $26.99
- CEO Nick Matzorkis said their post is not accusing Kendall of ‘stealing our idea,’ but does point out ‘obvious undeniable similarities’
- Latest backlash comes amid claims of cultural appropriation, after Kendall named her label after her Calabasas area code 818
- Critics have suggested that Kendall’s packaging overlooks the spirit’s deep-rooted Mexican legacy, and has now real affiliation to the country
Kendall Jenner has now been accused of ripping off an Austin-based tequila company that shares a similar brand name, design and logo, and is even made at the same Mexican distillery.
The accusation comes amid growing backlash faced by the Keeping Up with the Kardashian star over cultural appropriation claims, for naming her tequila label after her Calabasas area code 818, overlooking the spirit’s deep-rooted Mexican legacy.
818 Tequila by Kendall, 25, is marketed as being a twice-distilled blanco that retails at $44.99, while Austin’s Tequila 512 – that launched in 2012 – is a triple-distilled blanco and is priced lower at $26.99.
The alcoholic beverage company called Kendall directly on Wednesday, when they posted about the striking similarities to their product on their official Instagram page.
They claimed that while their product is distilled three times, Kendall’s is only distilled twice, yet she is charging twice the price of their bottles.
Not much to cheers about: Kendall Jenner has now been accused of ripping off Austin-based tequila brand 512 with her similar looking 818 product, made at the same Mexican distillery
‘You may have seen that @kendalljenner released a “new” tequila today,’ the post began. ‘Note the similarities, including the color, the name and it is made at the same distillery in Tequila Mexico as ours.’
The statement went on: ‘Their batches are being distilled twice. Ours three times. Yet she is charging twice as much per bottle. And here we are getting messages like the one in this post image. Doesn’t seem very cool. What do you think?’
The image on Instagram compared the two bottles, which someone had sent to them asking the question, ‘Is that you or did someone copy you?’
Called out: The alcoholic beverage company Tequila 512 called Kendall directly on Wednesday, when they posted about the striking similarities to their product
Tequila 512 CEO Nick Matzorkis told KXAN that his company does not share any ownership ties with Kendall’s brand, the products are completely separate.
‘To be clear the post does not accuse them of “stealing our idea,” but does point out obvious undeniable similarities that in their entirety makes a worthy point on the face of it,’ Matzorkis told the outlet.
Tequila 512 has been around in liquor stories since 2012, and has won industry awards for its taste.
However, with just 27.5k following on Instagram, it certainly doesn’t have the same influence as megastar Kendall, who has a staggering 164m followers.
Backlash: Kendall has also faced cultural appropriation claims, for naming her tequila label after her Calabasas area code 818, overlooking the spirit’s deep-rooted Mexican legacy