Pakistani fashion designer Maria B is embroiled in a legal controversy after Turkish influencer Türkan Atay, popularly known as “Pakistani Bhabhi,” served her an $8,000 legal notice over unpaid fees for a brand shoot in Turkey.
The conflict stems from a 2025 campaign shoot where Atay, an Instagram personality with 850,000 followers, claims Maria B’s team hired her to coordinate production but failed to honour their payment agreement. Atay alleges she was promised compensation per outfit, while the brand maintains there was a misunderstanding about payment terms.
“I was clear from the beginning – payment would be per dress, covering all production costs,” Atay stated in emotional Instagram videos. She shared purported screenshots showing a PR manager acknowledging the error: “God knows how I missed the per outfit part.”
After three months of failed negotiations, Atay’s legal notice demands:
- $1,000 remaining payment
- $2,000 legal fees
- $5,000 for mental anguish
- Public apology across all platforms
“Maria B launched a defamation campaign instead of resolving this professionally,” the notice alleges, citing reputational damage and follower loss.
Maria B’s Response
The designer countered with an official statement calling this a “payment misunderstanding,” criticising Atay’s “defamatory content.” In an Instagram video, Maria B blamed a “junior PR girl” for the confusion and claimed full payment was offered privately.
“What do I do with the PR girl? She made a mistake. Do I kill her?” Maria B said dramatically in her video response. She accused Atay of seeking publicity through “sensational videos.”
The dispute escalated when Atay claimed that Maria B blocked her on Instagram. Maria B referred to “LGTV-friendly media” that was promoting the controversy. Atay denied any LGBTQ+ associations, labelling the remarks as defamatory.
Legal experts suggest such cases may increase as influencer marketing grows, emphasising the need for written agreements detailing deliverables, timelines, and payment structures.
As neither party is backing down, the fashion industry is closely watching. This situation could set precedents for influencer-brand contractual obligations, social media defamation cases, and cross-border legal jurisdiction in digital disputes.
The seven-day deadline for Maria B to respond to the legal notice expires soon, potentially leading to courtroom proceedings if no settlement is reached.
