Robinhood Fires Back at Ice Cube

After the GameStop controversy, investing app Robinhood sees itself embroiled in another battle. This time with rapper Ice Cube who filed a federal lawsuit against it on March 31, 2021. He accuses the trading platform of using his photo without his consent.

The Complaint

Ice Cube called the app’s effort to appeal to young people cynical. He says that Robinhoodit engaged the endorsement of celebrity influencers such as Jay-Z, Nas, and Jared Leto but tarnished his reputation in an act of “transparent retribution.”

He alleged that Robinhood used the image and likeness of Ice Cube without his permission. The app used these to promote its products and services, which he described as terrible. According to Ice Cube, “Robinhood has picked on the wrong man this time.” 

How It Started

On March 8, Robinhood ran an ad on its financial newsletter on the Robinhood Snacks website. Ice Cube alleges that it used images that seem to be from the rapper’s photo from the 2007 comedy film “Are We Done Yet?”

Apparently, the caption “Correct yourself, before you wreck yourself” is a play on the rapper’s hit song, “Check Yo Self.” Ice Cube, whose legal name is O’Shea Jackson, Sr., claims that this gives a false impression that he is endorsing the app.

In addition, Ice Cube claims that Robinhood is punishing him for his business partner, Jeff Kwatinetz’s involvement in the GameStop controversy in early January. Kwatinetz is in a legal battle with the investing app over its decision to clamp down on volatile trades, which included GameStop.

Robinhood’s Response

The Robinhood camp, headed by CEO Vladimir Tenev, whom Ice Cube called, The Stock Impaler, did not immediately respond. However, when they did, they denied using his image without his permission. Robinhood spokesperson Lavinia Chirico said, “The image was licensed and used for non-commercial, editorial purposes in connection with a blog article.”

Robinhood vs. Ice Cube

In the lawsuit, Ice Cube accuses Robinhood of trademark infringement. He claims that Robinhood’s horrible products and services are not what he wants the world to associate with him. Alongside the numerous lawsuits the app is facing and the investigations in Congress, the platform has maligned the hard-earned brand and image of Ice Cube. 

The complaint also states Robinhood is blatantly ignoring his demands to stop using the phrase. It alleges that the trading platform is explicitly seeking to make an example out of him. Ice CubeThe complaint made it clear that Robinhood also violates California’s codes and common law governing the rights of publicity.

Ice Cube Seeks Injunction

The rapper, one of America’s most prominent Black voices, is now asking the court for an injunction. He wants the use of his image stopped. Ice Cube compels the court to order Robinhood to pay him for unspecified monetary and punitive damages. He wants them to punish the platform’s top executives for authorizing the said campaign.