Did Jon Gosselin's endorsement of Ed Hardy "kill" the brand? According to Radar Online, Ed Hardy himself said that former reality star of "Jon & Kate Plus 8," who is infamously obsessed with the brand, has effectively "killed" it.
"That Jon Gosselin thing was the nail in the coffin," Hardy said to the New York Post. "That's what tanked it. Macy's used to have a huge window display with Ed Hardy, and it filtered down and that's why Macy's dropped the brand."
After divorcing Kate Gosselin, Jon struck up a friendship with fashion designer Christian Audigier, who licensed Hardy's art for shirts and a variety of other products. Hardy refers to Audigier as "celebrity obsessed," and the blame for the brand's decline on the French businessman, as well as Gosselin, who was frequently photographed wearing the brand.
“Christian worships celebrities so much, he will get next to anyone who is famous for anything. If he could have gotten Charles Manson in a shirt, he would have,” Hardy told the Post.
In July 2009 Radar reported Gosselin and his then-girlfriend Hailey Glassman being entertained by Audigier on his yacht in St. Tropez in the French Riviera.
Hardy is releasing a new memoir entitled "Wear Your Dreams: My Life In Tattoos," which chronicles his journey from artist to accidental fashion mogul.
"Christian wanted me to be the figurehead, telling me I was going to be famous because he was a guy who worshipped bling and fame and he lives in that world. I didn't even know who these [celebrities] were. I said, 'Nah, that's cool, just pay me,' " Hardy said to the Post. Ed Hardy is now a known brand, with fans ranging from the cast of Jersey Shore to Madonna.
Do you think Jon Gosselin "killed" the Ed Hardy brand? Sound off below in the comments!
