Lexi Love Trademark Dispute: Adult Film Actress Sues Drag Performer from RuPaul's Drag Race
A federal court in California has allowed a trademark infringement lawsuit to proceed against drag performer Cody Barnes, known as Lexi Love from RuPaul's Drag Race Season 17, and media companies Paramount and WOW. The plaintiff, Selena Scola, an adult film actress and entertainer who has used the name Lexi Love since 2004 and holds a federal trademark registration, alleges that Barnes' use of the name has caused consumer confusion, diluted Scola's online presence, and cost her business opportunities. Scola began using Lexi Love in adult films and later expanded into mainstream entertainment. Barnes began using the name in 2009 and gained fame in 2025 on RuPaul's Drag Race. The court rejected the defendants' motion to dismiss based on First Amendment protections under the Rogers test, finding that the trademark use may be source-identifying rather than purely expressive. The case raises significant questions about the intersection of trademark law, drag performance, and free expression.
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