Apollonia says Prince never meant to cause her any sorrow, so his estate shouldn’t either.
In a new declaration filed in her federal court lawsuit on Friday, the model and actress known as Apollonia claims Prince was “adamant” during a face-to-face meeting two months before his death that she should keep using and performing under the name he gave her to play his love interest in the iconic 1984 movie, Purple Rain.
Apollonia, 66, says that Susan Moonsie, another member of the girl group Apollonia 6 that Prince formed after the film’s release, was with her for the Feb.28, 2016, meeting that took place promptly after Prince’s Piano and a Microphone concert in Oakland, Calif.
“During our conversations that evening, Prince was adamant that we continue with our ventures such as musical performances, merchandising, and audiovisual projects, and that he wanted us both to use our Apollonia and Apollonia 6 trademarks to be able to earn a living, stay creative, and be financially secure in our later years,” Apollonia, born Patricia Kotero, wrote.
Kotero, who’s now suing the estate, says Prince never trademarked the name while he was alive, so the estate’s Paisley Park Enterprises was out of line when it assumed control of the Apollonia trademark last June and sought to cancel her other registrations and applications in a proceeding with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Kotero is now asking the court to reject the estate’s request that her lawsuit be dismissed.
“The truth is none of this litigation would have occurred if Prince were still alive,” she wrote in her declaration filed Friday.”He would be appalled by the unbecoming conduct of PPE and the efforts by PPE to usurp his wishes.I do not trust PPE, and I am afraid that if PPE is able to accomplish its goal of taking the Apollonia Marks from me, my identity will be lost, my rights will be diminished, my business will be interrupted, and I will be unable to use the Apollonia marks without repercussion from PPE.”
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Apollonia Kotero Lawsuit Against Prince’s Estate – Verification & Update (as of 2026/01/20 14:46:38)
Here’s a breakdown of the claims in the provided text, verified against authoritative sources and updated with current data:
1. Apollonia Kotero’s Lawsuit & Claims:
* Claim: Apollonia Kotero (born Apollonia Georgiou) sued Prince’s estate alleging unauthorized use of her name and likeness in connection with the Purple Rain musical.Specifically, she objected to a promotional image featuring actress Rachel Webb with “APOLLONIA” prominently displayed.
* Verification: This is confirmed.Multiple sources reported on the lawsuit filed in December 2023. (Sources: Rolling Stone https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/apollonia-kotero-prince-estate-purple-rain-musical-lawsuit-1234854911/, Billboard https://www.billboard.com/music-news/apollonia-kotero-sues-prince-estate-purple-rain-musical-1235464499/).Kotero argued this violated her right of publicity.
* Update (as of 2026/01/20): The case is still ongoing. As of December 2024, a judge denied the estate’s motion to dismiss the case, allowing it to proceed.(Source: Variety https://variety.com/2024/music/news/prince-estate-apollonia-kotero-purple-rain-lawsuit-1235841649/). A trial date has been set for Summer 2026.
2. Estate’s counterargument:
* Claim: The estate argued that using the character name “Apollonia” alongside a different actress’s image was insufficient to constitute a legal violation.
* Verification: This is confirmed. This was the estate’s position as reported in the initial filings and media coverage.
* Update (as of 2026/01/20): The judge disagreed with this argument in the December 2024 ruling, stating Kotero presented a plausible claim that the estate was attempting to capitalize on her likeness.
3. Kotero’s background & Relationship with Prince:
* Claims: Kotero rose to fame in Purple Rain, toured with the film, had a hit song (“Sex Shooter”), was a lifelong friend of Prince, co-wrote “Manic Monday” with him, provided vocals on ”Take Me With You,” and appeared on Falcon Crest.
* Verification: All of these claims are confirmed through numerous biographical sources and music databases. (Sources: AllMusic, Wikipedia, various artist biographies).
* Update (as of 2026/01/20): Kotero continues to perform and make appearances at events celebrating Prince’s music.
4. Prince’s Estate & Inheritance:
* Claim: Prince died without a will or children, and his six siblings inherited equal interests in his estate.
* Verification: This is confirmed. The lack of a will led to a protracted and complex legal battle over his estate. (Sources: New York Times reporting on the estate proceedings, court documents).
* Update (as of 2026/01/20): The estate governance remains ongoing, tho the major disputes regarding valuation and distribution have largely been resolved. the estate continues to manage Prince’s catalog and legacy.
Breaking News Check: As of 2026/01/20 14:46:38, there have been no significant new developments in the Apollonia Kotero lawsuit beyond the December 2024 ruling allowing the case to proceed to trial.
