One of the most respected women in film and television, Connie Ferguson, is at the centre of a legal storm with a major international brand but the public has got her back.
This past weekend, Sunday World reported that Beiersdorf AG (the manufacturing company responsible for Nivea) are suing Koni Multinational Brands - a company co-owned by Ferguson - for passing off some of its products as if they were Nivea's.
Why?
Simply because the packaging of some of the products in her men’s range are similar to that of Nivea’s. According to the court documents, Beiersdorf AG now want a court order to force Connie men's products of the shelves.
According to the publication’s report, Beiersdorf declared itself the market leader in South Africa in its court documents, having made a turnover of more than R8.7-billion since 2012. R258-million of that turnover was from the sale of its shower gels alone.
Ferguson has yet to say too much about the matter in response to the charges against her but has accused Beiersdorf of bullying in an answering affidavit submitted by the legal counsel representing her and her business partner.
"The respondent is bringing healthy competition to the men's shower gel market, and the applicant, being an international company, is trying to bully and intimidate the respondent by bringing this baseless application," it states.
The public is not having any of this and the hashtag #ConnieBodyCare has been trending since the news broke.
Big Brands are not bothered until you become a strong competitor, they are using litigation and accusation towards @Connie_Ferguson trying to frustrates her but little do Nivea know that is giving her exposure, It is time for Small Businesses to claim market share #ConnieBodyCare https://t.co/23Kjkiwrv3
— Ndzavi Derrick CBA (@NdzaviD) February 19, 2018
Various Twitter users have come forward to show Ferguson support, even going so far as to buy her products and give peer reviews of their experience having used them for some time now.
Mme @Connie_Ferguson has been nothing but a hardworking woman who has built the #ConnieBodyCare range from scratch.Her hands on approach is highly commendable.Starting a business is not easy,especially for a black woman.which is why it's important we stand with her & support
— Nirvana's mommy🌞 (@_Baby_Nirvana) February 21, 2018
#ConnieBodyCare came to get another one. R23 at Pick n Pay pic.twitter.com/yPpM2AEOD6
— Fulufhelo M (@Faye_Faye_m) February 21, 2018
🙋🏾♀️, currently using it and this is my 2nd month using it and am pretty happy and i love that it. #ConnieBodyCare pic.twitter.com/gucIJDJHnz
— Mami (@Katozika11) February 19, 2018
I actually use the #ConnieBodyCare shower gel, it’s amazing - I think her men’s range is so underrated https://t.co/yuUCikvn1A
— 👋🏽 (@AlekBlak) February 21, 2018
I’ve tried 2 respond 2 as many tweets showing support 2 me & #ConnieBodyCare &. #ConnieMen as possible! Your love & support is overwhelming & I can not say enough how blessed & grateful I am 2 have u all in my corner! When God moves the orbit shakes! IT IS WELL! Bless u!🙏🏾❤️
— Connie Ferguson (@Connie_Ferguson) February 19, 2018
#ConnieBodyCare
— sInGi🔛🔝 (@Singie_) February 19, 2018
Pressure the whites too much.. and they will reveal their true colours.. pic.twitter.com/Dorb5XB0B5
Guess who’s getting #ConnieBodyCare #ConnieMen
— ʀᴇʟᴇʙʜɪʟᴇ (@Michel_Risto) February 19, 2018
Lemme see those hands if y’all also getting these products 😊 pic.twitter.com/6OUoUqg9Jy
Ferguson has been watching all this unfold and has tried to respond to as many as she could.
I’ve tried 2 respond 2 as many tweets showing support 2 me & #ConnieBodyCare &. #ConnieMen as possible! Your love & support is overwhelming & I can not say enough how blessed & grateful I am 2 have u all in my corner! When God moves the orbit shakes! IT IS WELL! Bless u!🙏🏾❤️
— Connie Ferguson (@Connie_Ferguson) February 19, 2018
😭😭😭 This kind of support is overwhelming! Bless you and bless you! But trust and BELIEVE that IT IS WELL!🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾 #ConnieBodyCare #ConnieMen https://t.co/xdro2oPPjZ
— Connie Ferguson (@Connie_Ferguson) February 19, 2018
My daughters have dry skin and it has worked great for them!😬 Hope you like it!🙏🏾❤️😘 #ConnieBodyCare #ConnieMen https://t.co/dBt4F4WQqk
— Connie Ferguson (@Connie_Ferguson) February 19, 2018
Shoprite, Spar, PicknPay, Boxer, Clicks, Choppies and Medizone among other retailers. Appreciate the support!🙏🏾❤️ #ConnieBodyCare #ConnieMen https://t.co/5HYHNBU9aZ
— Connie Ferguson (@Connie_Ferguson) February 19, 2018
We will follow the developments of this story and keep you all updated.
Main image credit: instagram.com/ferguson_films