Amy Winehouse’s father loses suit against friends selling her clothes

In this Feb. 16, 2007 photo, British singer Amy Winehouse poses for photographs after being interviewed by The Associated Press at a studio in north London. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)

LONDON, United Kingdom — The father of music superstar Amy Winehouse on Monday lost a U.K. lawsuit he brought against two of her friends, who auctioned some of her clothes and other possessions years after her death.

The late singer’s former stylist Naomi Parry and her friend Catriona Gourlay sold dozens of items, including a black Armani bag and dresses Winehouse wore on her last tour in June 2011.

The court heard arguments in a trial that they “took advantage” of her father’s forgetfulness and pocketed more than $1.4 million in sales.

Both denied acting dishonestly and said the items had been given or lent to them by the singer, even if there was no proof.

But Amy’s father, Mitch Winehouse, sued the pair, alleging they did not have the right to sell the items, which went under the hammer between November 2021 and May 2023 by Los Angeles-based auctioneers.

Judge Sarah Clarke said in her written judgment that she found that “neither Ms. Parry nor Ms. Gourlay deliberately concealed any of their disputed items from the claimant”.

“Even if I am wrong about that, Mr. Winehouse could have discovered what disputed items the defendants had with reasonable diligence,” she added.

Dismissing the case, the judge ruled that the 155 items, including ballet slippers, dresses, handbags, earrings and make-up were owned by the two women or gifted to them.

A few were described as “abandoned by Amy” therefore her father “has no ownership nor immediate right to possession”.

‘Extraordinary generosity’

Singer-songwriter Winehouse, who enjoyed meteoric global success, died in July 2011 from alcohol poisoning, aged just 27.

She was a distinctive figure with her beehive hairdo, heavy black eye make-up, multiple tattoos and smoky voice.

Winehouse shot to fame with her Grammy Award-winning 2006 album “Back to Black”, which included the track “Rehab” charting her battle with addiction.

Parry said after the ruling that the court “has cleared my name, unequivocally and in full, after years of deeply damaging and unfounded allegations”.

“I stood beside Amy as a friend, a creative partner, and her costume designer. What we shared was built on trust, loyalty, and a genuine love of the work,” Parry added in a statement.

The judge ruled Winehouse had a “longstanding, close friendship” with both women before she even became famous and was known for her “extraordinary generosity towards her friends and also those she barely knew”.

This “particularly involved gifts of clothing, fashion accessories and other style items to her close friends,” the judge added.

“She had more items than she could ever wear, use or store” and routinely gave away clothes and accessories to her friends and family.

According to court documents, her father believed any sums collected from the sales organized by Los Angeles-based Julien’s Auctions would be due to him and the Amy Winehouse Foundation.

The foundation is a charity set up in the singer’s name working with young people to foster hope and self-reliance.

AFP