Salt Bae, the butcher who went viral on social media and launched a food empire off his notoriety, is the subject of a $5million lawsuit from an artist salty over the unauthorized used of artwork featuring the restaurateur’s signature pose.
Williams Hicks, a Brooklyn-based artist known for his stenciled paintings and murals, filed the lawsuit against Salt Bae – whose real name is Nusret Gökçe – in the District Court for the Southern District of New York on Monday.
The suit alleges that after Gökçe commissioned Hicks to do several pieces for his restaurants in Miami, New York, Doha, and Dubai, Salt Bae used Hicks’ graphics for menus, labels, restaurant signs and more.
Williams Hicks, a Brooklyn-based artist known for his stenciled paintings and murals, filed the lawsuit against Salt Bae – whose real name is Nusret Gökçe (pictured) – in the District Court for the Southern District of New York on Monday
The first page of the filing from Hicks and his attorneys
The ‘unauthorized distribution’ of the artwork resulted in a loss of income as Gökçe never sought licensing for it, the lawsuit claims.
According to the lawsuit, Hicks and Joseph Iurato were commissioned to create the artwork in September 2017 for Gökçe’s Nusr-et Miami steakhouse. The artwork consisted of ‘an original vectorized patterned work’ and an ‘original stenciled painting depicting’ Gökçe in his signature pose, the suit states.
Following the completion of the Miami piece, an additional commision for artwork at Nusr-et New York came next, followed by commissioned pieces at Nusr-et Doha in November 2018 and Nusr-et Dubai in February 2019, the suit reads.
According to the lawsuit, Hicks and Joseph Iurato were commissioned to create the artwork in September 2017 for Gökçe’s Nusr-et Miami steakhouse. An additional piece was made in New York City
Gökçe and the defendants commissioned pieces at Nusr-et Doha in November 2018 and Nusr-et Dubai in February 2019, the suit reads.
Hicks discovered that the defendants were ‘engaging in widespread, unauthorized distribution’ of the work in early 2020, noting that imagery soon began appearing in window displays, digital signs, menus, wipes and takeout bags at ‘Nusr-et steakhouses and Saltbae Burger restaurants in New York, Dubai, and Istanbul.’
The lawsuit reads that Hicks sent a letter to Gökçe in April 2020 demanding that they ‘immediately cease and desist’ from any further use of the artwork. But rather than comply with the request, Gökçe began using further graphics at locations in Doha, D Maris Bay, Turkey, Boston, Dallas, and in several Istanbul locations, according to the lawsuit.
Images of the artwork are prominently displayed in window displays and across the front entrances of the Turkish chef’s restaurants. The artwork has also been seen on signage, uniforms, menus, takeout bags, table placards, wipes, stickers, brand identity, consumer products, merchandise and other marketing materials, the lawsuit states.
Unauthorized copies of the artwork has also appeared on advertising for Nusr-et steakhouses and Saltbae Burger restaurants, according to the suit. The lawsuit notes that current social media icons, profile pictures and even their online ordering platform use copies of the unauthorized work.
Hicks discovered that the defendants were ‘engaging in widespread, unauthorized distribution’ of the work in early 2020, the suit reads
Hicks sent a letter to Gökçe in April 2020 demanding that they ‘immediately cease and desist’ from any further use of the artwork. But rather than comply with the request, Gökçe began using further graphics at locations in Doha, D Maris Bay, Turkey, Boston (pictured), Dallas, and in several Istanbul locations, according to the lawsuit
The artwork has also been seen on signage, uniforms, menus, takeout bags, table placards, wipes, stickers, brand identity, consumer products, merchandise and other marketing materials, the lawsuit states
As of February 2021, Gökçe and the eateries even began selling products that included flavored gourmet salts and steak seasonings that too included unauthorized copies of the artwork on their packaging, the lawsuit contends
And as of February 2021, Gökçe and the eateries even began selling products that included flavored gourmet salts and steak seasonings that too included unauthorized copies of the artwork on their packaging, the lawsuit contends
The products were even marketed at Gulfood 2021, an annual food and beverage trade expo hosted in Dubai. Salt Bae’s stall at the exposition even included a ‘prominently displayed large printed graphic,’ according to the suit.
In addition to the monetary compensation, Hicks is also seeking an injunctive relief and ‘other relief as the Court deems just and proper.’
The artwork is seen on a takeout bag for the restaraunt
The lawsuit notes that current social media icons, profile pictures and even their online ordering platform use copies of the unauthorized work
The beef comes less than two years after Salt Bae paid a $230,000 settlement to four waiters who accused him of firing them from his Manhattan steakhouse for asking questions about tips.
Gökçe agreed to the settlement the day before a trial with the National Labor Relations Board arbiter was set. Four former employees of Nusr-Et Steakhouse New York filed complaints against the Turkish chef in January 2019
Onur Usluca, 27, Yunus Delimehmet, 36, Suleyman Kucur, 51, and Batuhan M. Yunkus, 30, said they faced wrongful termination, alleging they were dismissed after they began to question how the tip pool was divided.
The juicy drama – or having his New York joint dubbed the worst restaurant in NYC – hasn’t stopped Salt Bae from looking to expand even more.
The products were even marketed at Gulfood 2021, an annual food and beverage trade expo hosted in Dubai. Salt Bae’s stall at the exposition even included a ‘prominently displayed large printed graphic,’ according to the suit
