Steve Aoki Sued Over ‘Undisclosed Endorsements’ of Trading Cards and NFTs on Instagram
Steve Aoki is facing a class-action lawsuit alleging he failed to disclose paid endorsements for MetaZoo trading cards and NFTs on Instagram.Summary
DJ Steve Aoki is being sued in a class-action lawsuit over his promotional Instagram posts for MetaZoo, a trading card and NFT company. Aoki became a part-owner of MetaZoo in 2021 and collaborated with them, releasing a collectible card series. The lawsuit claims Aoki’s posts did not reveal he was compensated for promoting the cards and their NFT counterparts, leading plaintiffs to purchase them at inflated prices. The complaint, filed by attorney Evan Berger, alleges he lost $150,000 on MetaZoo NFTs and seeks to represent others similarly affected. The lawsuit also names Matt Kalish, co-founder of DraftKings, for similar undisclosed endorsements. MetaZoo itself is not a defendant, having filed for bankruptcy in 2024. The suit estimates damages in the tens of millions, citing MetaZoo’s revenue prior to bankruptcy. This case is part of a larger trend of lawsuits against celebrities who promoted NFTs during the 2020s, particularly after the crypto market decline, including cases involving Justin Bieber and Madonna.
(Source：Billboard)