Apollonia Claims Prince’s Property Working Towards His Needs

[ad_1] by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman January 18, 2026

The singer says Prince gave her his blessing to maintain utilizing the title and persona for her music profession.

Apollonia, who starred in Prince’s “Purple Rain” musical movie and was thought-about the singer’s muse, has referred to as out the late singer’s property for his or her makes an attempt to limit her title and picture. She was additionally the lead singer for the group Apollonia 6.

The mannequin, singer, and actress of the stage title filed a brand new movement in her lawsuit in opposition to his property Jan. 16, claiming the entity is working in opposition to the needs of Prince. Within the lawsuit obtained by Rolling Stone, Apollonia argued that Prince supported her profession utilizing the title. She says this contradicts his property’s present efforts to restrict her profession alternatives after trademarking the title.

The property’s Paisley Park Enterprises acquired the trademark in June 2025, additional escalating issues by making an attempt to cancel her different registrations and purposes. Nonetheless, Apollonia, actual title Patricia Kotero, has opted to battle again in opposition to the management of the model she continued utilizing almost a decade after Prince’s demise.

The submitting particulars a dialog allegedly had between Apollonia and Prince, simply months earlier than he died in April 2016.

“Throughout our conversations that night, Prince was adamant that we proceed with our ventures similar to musical performances, merchandising, and audiovisual initiatives, and that he needed us each to make use of our Apollonia and Apollonia 6 emblems so as to have the ability to earn a dwelling, keep inventive, and be financially safe in our later years,” Apollonia wrote.

The 2 developed a long-time friendship after the Kotero starred within the hallmark movie by Prince. The Oscar-winning movie, alongside its iconic soundtrack album, turned a cultural phenomenon and a cornerstone of the rock star’s legacy.

Prince then created a woman group, Apollonia 6, named after the movie’s principal love curiosity and Kotero’s adopted persona. The singer went on to make use of the title in later initiatives and media appearances.

Apollonia additionally believes that none of the present authorized battles would exist if Prince nonetheless lived. She asserted that the property is “usurping his needs” towards his “lifelong good friend” and inventive associate.

The submitting added, “He can be appalled by the unbecoming conduct of PPE and the efforts by PPE to usurp his needs. I don't belief PPE, and I'm afraid that if PPE is ready to accomplish its objective of taking the Apollonia Marks from me, my id will likely be misplaced, my rights will likely be diminished, my enterprise will likely be interrupted, and I will likely be unable to make use of the Apollonia marks with out repercussion from PPE.”

Apollonia initially sued the property in August, prompting the defendants to file a movement to dismiss the lawsuit in October. Within the submitting, the property claimed that they by no means sought authorized motion in opposition to the singer, calling the matter a difficulty for the U.S. Trademark’s workplace to determine on.