Singer Prince must fork over nearly $4 million to a fragrance company that he stiffed on a perfume deal.
A special court referee in Manhattan determined that Prince (real name Prince Rogers Nelson) has to pay Revelations Perfume & Cosmetic $3.95 million to cover what the company spent in promoting a perfume targeting 18- to 45-year-old women.
The company sued Prince in 2008, accusing him of not sticking to his pledge to promote “3121,” which was named for one of his albums. It was supposed to be packaged in a purple bottle bearing his name.
Special referee Louis Crespo awarded the damages after Prince was found liable by a Manhattan judge in January.
Prince made a deal with Revelations in December 2006, agreeing to help launch the line the following July in his hometown of Minneapolis, Minn. He also pledged to promote the line on the “Oprah Winfrey Show.”
By February 2007, the company charged, Prince had barred Revelations from using his name or symbol on the “3121” bottle and carton and began sending “mixed messages” about his level of support.
