Sue Bird’s TOGETHXR inclusivity brand has filed suit against the XFL, owned by Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, claiming the league is using a logo that is too similar to Brand’s own, according to TMZ.
The XFL is a minor professional football league rebooted and founded in 2018 by WWE chairman Vince McMahon.
TOGETHXR is a lifestyle and culture brand co-founded by the WNBA player Bird, U.S. women’s national soccer team star Alex Morgan and Olympic swimming gold medalist Simone Manuel and snowboarding gold medalist Chloe Kim. The lawsuit says the football league’s logo looks and feels “confusingly similar to TOGETHXR’s brand and logo.”
When the XFL first debuted their logo, Bird took to Twitter to address the similarity to her company’s. She even tagged The Rock’s official Twitter account.
Well doesn’t this looks familiar 🧐🥸@XFL2023 @togethxr @TheRock pic.twitter.com/MDv77qypYE
— Sue Bird (@S10Bird) April 7, 2022
Bird’s fiancée, Rapinoe, also took to Twitter to address the issue.
“Welp. This is awkward,” Rapinoe tweeted. “Only thing @TheRock and @XFL2023 are gonna be cookin up is a response to the Cease and Desist and an ENTIRE new brand ID. @togethxr got this on lock boys.”
Welp. This is awkward. Only thing @TheRock and @XFL2023 are gonna be cookin up is a response to the Cease and Desist and an ENTIRE new brand ID. @togethxr got this on 🔒 boys. pic.twitter.com/klItJO2fJ5
— Megan Rapinoe (@mPinoe) April 8, 2022
The “cookin up” reference by Rapinoe is a dig at The Rock’s legendary WWE catchphrase “If You Smell What the Rock is Cooking!”
The Rock hasn’t made any public comments regarding the lawsuit nor has he responded to Bird and Rapinoe via social media.
To be clear the lawsuit was filed by TOGETHXR against the XFL. The Rock is not an individual named in the suit.
Now both parties wait for the legal process to get underway and determine what, if any, actions are to take place.
Meanwhile for Bird, in what is likely her last season before retirement, her Seattle Storm are 5-3 and in second place in the WNBA’s Western Conference in the early part of the season. She’s third in the league in assists and is shooting 35 percent from three.
Bird has seen the WNBA and women’s sports evolve since she joined the league in 2002, and the fact that young girls have entire leagues of women athletes to aspire to means a lot to her.
“Oh, I think it’s life-changing. And it doesn’t even have to be somebody that looks exactly like you. But it’s so powerful. … I love sports. I was now starting to choose basketball as my path. And I was in this period of time where I just needed something to dream for,” Bird said. “That’s what was missing, you know? I don’t want to put too much emphasis on this and to say, Had I not seen Jen Azzi, who knows what would’ve happened? But at the same time, had I not seen this path, this person who took this path, this person I could emulate, right? I mean, chances are I would’ve maybe found my way regardless. But that gave me something to cling to. I mean, clearly I’m sitting here, 41, I’m still talking about it. It’s a vivid memory for me.”
The Seattle Storm take on the Dallas Wings and Connecticut Sun this weekend. Bird will miss those two games and possibly additional action, as she entered the league’s COVID health and safety protocols and currently it is unclear when she’ll return.
