On May 17, 2021, class claims were filed in federal court in the Central District of California against actress Gwyneth Paltrow’s luxe lifestyle and wellness brand, GOOP Inc., alleging that the company’s kitschy “This Smells Like My Vagina” candle may explode during normal use.
In the complaint, named plaintiff Colby Watson alleges that the candles explode or suffer catastrophic failure during normal usage because of a design defect and/or manufacturing flaw. The plaintiff described how after burning the candle, which retails for $75.00, for an estimated three hours or less, it became engulfed in high flames. The complaint notes that stories of the upscale exploding candles were widespread across the globe, even receiving a write up in the popular UK-based newspaper, The Sun. Despite the extensive public outcry over the dangers posed by the candles, GOOP failed to enact a recall of the product and still continues to sell the candles on the GOOP website.
The plaintiff seeks to represent a class made up of all residents of the U.S. who purchased the “This Smells Like My Vagina” candle from GOOP Inc. between 2020-2021, in addition to a Texas subclass. The suit brings causes of action for breach of implied warranty, strict liability, negligence, violations of the Magnuson-Moss Act, unjust enrichment, violation of California’s Unfair Competition Law, manufacturing defect strict products liability in tort, inadequate warnings strict products liability in tort and negligence liability in tort based on fault.
The plaintiff seeks relief in the form of: (1) an injunction against GOOP from any further sales of the candle and to take such other remedial action as may otherwise be requested herein; and (2) monetary damages to adequately and reasonably compensate owners of the candle who have, through no fault of their own, purchased the defective and dangerous vagina-scented candles.
The case is: Colby Watson et al. v. Goop Inc., Case No.: 2:21-cv-04113, in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.
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