MILKSHAKE TO MERCHANDISE? Kelis Partners With “Make It Brown” Toys For A Highly Controversial—And Expensive—Melanin Makeover!
A brand new entrepreneurial venture has been officially uncovered by Media Take Out, as R&B diva and culinary boss Kelis has teamed up with an independent collectible startup called Make It Brown toys. The singer took to her social media platforms to showcase the unique business, which specializes in taking iconic pop culture characters and entirely reimagining them as Black and Brown figures. On the brand’s official web store, limited-edition, numbered art toys of a Black “Woody” from Toy Story and a Melanin-infused “Super Mario” have already officially dropped.
While the core mission of the project focuses on promoting representation and highlighting rich historical contexts—such as the often-erased history of Black cowboys in the American West—the business model itself is raising massive legal eyebrows. Media Take Out points out that the creative team is treading on incredibly dangerous ground by utilizing globally recognized intellectual property. The character of Woody is strictly owned by the multi-billion dollar powerhouse Disney, while the legendary Super Mario brothers belong entirely to Nintendo, two corporate giants notoriously famous for ruthlessly hunting down and suing unauthorized uses of their trademarks.
A Massive Fine Line: Art Collectibles Or Intellectual Property Theft?
Because “knocking off” or altering copyrighted material without explicit permission is heavily illegal under United States federal law, the entire venture could be heading toward a courtroom nightmare. While independent artists occasionally try to slide under the radar by labeling their creations as “bootleg art toys” or “parodies,” selling them on a public commercial scale usually acts as a direct bat-signal for corporate legal teams. Unless Kelis and her business partners managed to secure a nearly impossible, multi-million dollar licensing agreement from both Disney and Nintendo, a massive cease-and-desist or a full-blown copyright infringement lawsuit is likely right around the corner.
Legal drama aside, the sheer cost of these figures has early shoppers absolutely reeling. The website has officially listed the specialized Woody and Mario figures at a staggering $225.00 a piece! While the brand defends the pricing by highlighting that the toys are strictly numbered, extremely rare, and targeted toward high-end collectors, everyday fans are balking at the eye-watering price tag. Whether the business survives the corporate legal sharks or gets shut down before the next batch drops, Kelis is definitely proving she isn’t afraid to take a massive business gamble.
Do you think Kelis and the “Make It Brown” team have secret corporate permission to sell these figures, or is Disney about to shut this whole operation down? Let us know in the comments!
