Pakistan: Designer Maria B, whose real name is Maria Butt, has sent a Rs100 million defamation notice to Turkish influencer Türkan Atay on Saturday. This legal action follows a dispute over unpaid fees for a brand shoot in Turkey earlier this year.
Atay had previously filed a case against Maria B for $8,000, claiming that the designer had failed to pay her in full for her services managing a production for the brand's 2025 campaign. The legal action was triggered by accusations from Atay regarding the agreed-upon payment terms and Maria B’s alleged failure to fulfill them.
Atay shared multiple Instagram videos in which she detailed her side of the story. She claimed that she had agreed to charge per dress for the shoot, which would include all production costs such as location, models, and videography.
Atay also shared what she says are screenshots of conversations with Maria B’s PR manager, where the pricing structure was clearly outlined. However, according to Atay, the designer’s team later offered a lump-sum payment, claiming they had misunderstood the pricing structure. Atay allegedly contacted Maria B directly, but the designer denied any involvement in the payment process.
After both Maria B and Atay shared several public videos and posts about the situation, Atay issued a legal notice demanding $8,000. This sum included legal fees, the remaining amount of $1,000 as per the original agreement, and an additional $5,000 for mental distress caused by the ongoing dispute.
In response, Maria B served a defamation notice claiming that Atay's accusations were false, malicious, and damaging to her reputation. The notice accused Atay of spreading defamatory statements on Instagram, including claims about Maria B's dishonest business practices and personal attacks.
Maria B’s defamation notice demanded an apology from Atay, to be published within 14 days, along with damages of Rs100 million. The designer also requested that Atay immediately cease all defamatory statements on her social media platforms.
According to Maria B, Atay’s allegations were intended to humiliate her and damage her image both in Pakistan and internationally. The notice described the posts as wild, baseless, and malicious, aimed at tarnishing her reputation and settling personal scores.
In contrast, Atay’s legal notice, dated April 24, called for Maria B to pay the demanded amount of $8,000 within seven days. It also required the designer to issue a public apology on all platforms where the defamatory content had been posted.
Atay’s legal team argued that Maria B had resorted to a malicious defamation campaign after Atay requested her payment, which resulted in significant emotional distress and reputational damage. Atay's legal counsel has warned of further legal action if their demands are not met within the stipulated time.
