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On Monday (May 11), editors at XXL released a letter online from legal reps of Louis Vuitton, claiming that Rick Ross is wearing counterfeit Louis Vuitton shades on the mag's May 2009 cover.
"We were dismayed to see the cover of the May 2009 issue of XXL Magazine, which features a photo of Rick Ross wearing a pair of sunglasses prominently featuring counterfeit Louis Vuitton trademarks," Michael D. Pantalony, Esq. wrote in the letter. "Because the photo has generated considerable confusion among your readers and Louis Vuitton customers among others, we feel it is important to clarify several points.
"The first is that the sunglasses Mr. Ross is wearing were not made by Louis Vuitton, and in fact, are counterfeit," he added.
Since then, Jacob Bernstein, AKA "The Sunglasses Pimp," has come forward to defend Ross. He says that he's the designer behind the Miami rapper's custom shades, saying the Louis Vuitton sunglasses are no less authentic than a customized Rolls Royce.
"It's the same thing as buying a Rolls Royce and having it tricked out," Bernstein told AllHipHop. "Just because the product has been customized by me doesn't take away from the fact that the frames are authentic Louis Vuitton Millionaires."
Bernstein is well known in the world of fashion, via his Los Angeles-based business, Jack's Eyewear.
He's customized shades for several celebrities including Jay-Z, Kanye West, Beyonce, Mary J. Blige, Sharon Stone, Fergie, Gwen Stefani, Brad Pitt, Usher and others.
"We were dismayed to see the cover of the May 2009 issue of XXL Magazine, which features a photo of Rick Ross wearing a pair of sunglasses prominently featuring counterfeit Louis Vuitton trademarks," Michael D. Pantalony, Esq. wrote in the letter. "Because the photo has generated considerable confusion among your readers and Louis Vuitton customers among others, we feel it is important to clarify several points.
"The first is that the sunglasses Mr. Ross is wearing were not made by Louis Vuitton, and in fact, are counterfeit," he added.
Since then, Jacob Bernstein, AKA "The Sunglasses Pimp," has come forward to defend Ross. He says that he's the designer behind the Miami rapper's custom shades, saying the Louis Vuitton sunglasses are no less authentic than a customized Rolls Royce.
"It's the same thing as buying a Rolls Royce and having it tricked out," Bernstein told AllHipHop. "Just because the product has been customized by me doesn't take away from the fact that the frames are authentic Louis Vuitton Millionaires."
Bernstein is well known in the world of fashion, via his Los Angeles-based business, Jack's Eyewear.
He's customized shades for several celebrities including Jay-Z, Kanye West, Beyonce, Mary J. Blige, Sharon Stone, Fergie, Gwen Stefani, Brad Pitt, Usher and others.