Stay Connected
Atlanta Black Star/Entertainment
Entertainment

‘Black Ink Crew: Chicago’ Star Van Johnson Countersues Brothers Who Accuse Him of Stealing ‘Chicagorilla’ Logo

Posted byBy Tia Berger | Published on: CommentsComments (0)

“Black Ink Crew: Chicago” reality star Van Johnson is being accused of stealing a logo for his urban fashion line.

Two brothers Faheem and Falaah Shabazz are currently in a legal battle with Johnson after they filed documents stating they own the rights to the “Chicagorilla” logo. Johnson hit back and sued them for slander, interfering with a business and assault the Blast reported.

Van Johnson

(photo credit: Van’s Instagram)

The “Loyal Ink” tattoo artist said he “legitimately” fears for his life after receiving a threatening phone call from an unidentified person who told him to “watch his back” and “they were coming for him.”

Johnson stated in legal documents that he and another one of the Shabazz brothers, Suraqah created the “Chicagorilla” collection together. However, their relationship ended and the reality star continued with the clothing line.

In the midst of filming “Black Ink,” Viacom received a legal document that prevented the fashion logo from being displayed on the show without compensation.

Faheem and Falaah reportedly filed legal documents after they realized the logo had monetary value.

Johnson claimed he’s lost money from sponsorships and other deals following the Shabazz brothers’ false claims and his reputation has taken a hit. Johnson filed a lawsuit for unspecified damages.

Independent journalism still matters.

We hope this story was worth your time. For over 14 years, Atlanta Black Star has stayed Black-owned and independently run. We didn't get here by waiting on ad budgets that were never built to prioritize us. Our readers did that.

Corporate support for Black media has always been thin. Outlets like ours get roughly 1% of the $170 billion spent on U.S. advertising each year, and that margin is shrinking further as advertisers walk back the DEI-linked commitments they made in 2020. That's the backdrop. It's not why we're asking.

The wider picture isn't any steadier. Newspaper ad revenue has fallen more than 80% since 2005, and local newsrooms are closing at a rate of roughly two a week nationwide. When outlets go under, it's rarely the ones built to center a Black perspective from the ground up that get to stick around.

We know a request for support isn't why you came here. But without readers choosing to fund this work directly, the depth of reporting we can do at home and abroad shrinks along with everyone else's. If you're not in a position to give, that doesn't change how much we value you as a reader.

If you are able to, a recurring contribution does more for us than a single one-time gift, because it lets us plan the next investigation instead of just the next invoice. It takes about 30 seconds, no long form, no account. Thank you for continuing to support independent journalism and freedom of the press.

Give once Give monthly Support another way

Related Stories

Back to top