Eminem fights a trademark case over beauty products tied to Reasonably Shady

Eminem's three-year trademark dispute over Reasonably Shady, the podcast brand belonging to Real Housewives of Potomac stars Robyn Dixon and Gizelle Bryant, has widened from podcast names to plans for beauty products that never reached shoppers, the latest turn in a fight far removed from hip-hop itself. On July 24, Dixon and Bryant asked the federal trademark board to reject Eminem's newest challenge, which questions plans for eye shadow, lip gloss, makeup and candles.

Eminem's lawyers, in a July 17 filing, argue that the missing suppliers, samples, prices and packaging show the pair reserved product categories without seriously preparing anything for sale. Dixon and Bryant call the timing suspicious: Eminem "waited nearly three years after receiving [Dixon and Bryant's] discovery responses and taking Ms. Dixon's deposition before asserting an entirely new claim," their filing states.

Dixon and Bryant argue that a later statement about having no immediate launch plans doesn't prove they lacked genuine intent when they filed their original trademark application in February 2022. "The timing matters," their filing states, pointing to hoodies, hats, shirts, mugs and autographed paddles as proof the brand already had paying customers before Eminem raised any objection.

The pair's lawyers argue cosmetics and candles were plausible next steps for the brand, writing that "cosmetics and candles are plausible extensions for a lifestyle, entertainment, style, and personality-driven brand," and distinguishing their case from one involving "no business, no brand, no audience, and no commercial activity."

Eminem formally opposed the Reasonably Shady trademark application in February 2023, arguing consumers could confuse it with his own Shady brands. Dixon and Bryant have separately said Eminem resisted their request to question him directly, offering manager Paul Rosenberg and two other witnesses instead; his lawyers say that was meant to avoid burdening him with a lengthy interview. Eminem's trial witness information is due August 14, unless the trademark board changes or pauses the schedule while it considers his pending request. MusicSuey has also reported on Kurupt saying Eminem paid for his time in rehab, a separate story from the same news cycle.