Rap superstar Jay Z turned his nose up at promoting his eponymous fragrance, Gold Jay Z, refusing to make celebrity appearances while collecting $2 million in royalties from a licensing company, according to a new lawsuit.
“Sales of Gold Jay Z have declined considerably because of Jay Z’s and his teams lack of interest in supporting and promoting his own brand,” according to the new $18 million suit filed by Perfumania Holdings Inc.
Gold Jay Z was the best selling celebrity fragrance a year after its launch in 2014, ousting David Beckham‘s aftershave by eight to one.
But sales tanked last year from a projected $35 million to $6.1 million because the rapper was too busy with other projects to focus on the fragrance, the Manhattan civil suit says.
Jay Z refused to appear on “Good Morning America,” turned down a cover story for Women’s Wear Daily and an event at Macy’s to promote the men’s scent, according to court papers.
He even rejected five prototypes for an 18-carat gold capped bottle designed by Jacob the Jeweler for a customer contest.
The music mogul hasn’t made a single appearance to support Gold Jay Z and was unavailable for meetings about spinoff scents for five months in 2014.
Jay Z, whose real name is Shawn Carter, crippled “the emerging brand…all the while collecting a handsome guaranteed minimum royalty as well as Perfumania common stock,” the suit says.
The New York-based Perfumania wants the royalties back plus another $16 million in damages.
Reps for the rapper did not immediately return calls for comment.