The producers of a stage play based on the “Wagathie Christie” trial say the show will go on – despite Rebekah Vardy trademarking the term.
Vardy v Rooney: The Wagathie Christie Trial, a “verbatim production” using High Court transcripts from the libel battle between Coleen Rooney and Vardy, is currently showing at the Ambassadors Theatre in the West End and set to tour the UK and Ireland from May 26 until June 17.
On Wednesday, Saphia Maxamed, owner of London Entertainment, confirmed to the PA news agency her firm has registered “Wagatha Christie” as a trademark on behalf of its client Rebekah.
The producers of the Wagatha Christie play have since told PA: “This story continues to have more twists and turns than an Agatha Christie thriller and this morning’s news that Rebekah Vardy has trademarked the term ‘Wag*tha Chr*stie’ is the latest plot development.
“Performances of Vardy v Rooney: The Wag*tha Chr*stie Trial continue as planned in the West End and on tour and we would be delighted for Mrs Vardy to come and see the show.”
In their statement, the producers used asterisks to alter the play’s name in an apparent reference to the trademark – and the idea they may no longer be able to legally use the term Wagatha Christie.
An insider said the WAG decided to trademark the phrase in a bid to "take back control" after she lost her High Court battle against Coleen, who is married to former footballer Wayne Rooney.
The source told The Sun: "This trademark is Becky’s two fingers to Coleen and all the misery associated with ‘Wagatha Christie’. Becky is shrewd and knew people would try to cash in on the phrase.
“She now owns the UK trademark and would consider expanding it to other territories if she thought it was needed."
They then went on to reveal what this means for those wanting to use the phrase commercially, adding: “If someone wants to print the logo on a mug, for example, they would be infringing the trademark if they didn’t ask permission."
However, the insider added that "it is a legal grey area in some respects, however, and will be done on a case-by-case basis.”
Rebekah and Coleen faced each other in court in July 2022, with Coleen coming out triumphant after a lengthy 10 day trial.
The saga took social media by storm, and, along with becoming a play, has been adapted as a television drama, starring Michael Sheen as the barrister in the case, David Sherborne.
Rebekah has since been open about how the trial affected her and her family, revealing the impact in a documentary in November 2022.
"Social media is the root of all evil," she said at the time, during an interview in which she also denied all wrongdoing.
"At that point [during the trial], it ruined my life. My kids were being bullied. I found it really difficult. I was scared to leave the house. I had paparazzi parked outside my house that would follow me, turn their car around and drive at me down the same side of the road as me."
READ NEXT:
- Click here for today's top showbiz news
This Morning's Phillip Schofield accused of 'intimidating behaviour' by I’m a Celeb star
MAFS UK star Marilyse shows off her sporty side in bikini-clad game on holiday
Corrie share BTS look at Ryan's acid attack prosthetics that take hours to prepare
For the latest showbiz exclusives, sign up to our daily OK! Newsletter
Source: Read Full Article
