Tennessee Baker Faces Legal Threat Over Business Name from Florida Rival
Chloe Sexton, a Tennessee baker and social media sensation who gained fame as a finalist on Gordon Ramsay's reality TV show Next Level Baker, is now confronting a potential trademark infringement lawsuit. The legal challenge comes from a Florida-based rival business, Chloe's Cookies LLC, which claims her company's name, Chloe's Giant Cookies, is too similar to theirs.
The Origins of the Dispute
In a tearful video shared last week, Sexton revealed that she received a legal notice from Chloe's Cookies LLC on November 20. This occurred just three days after she announced to her 2.8 million TikTok followers that she would be appearing on Ramsay's show. The Florida company, owned by Ken and Sheryl Weiner, was established in June 2018 and is named after their dog. Despite the threat, the Weiners confirmed to the Daily Mail that they have not yet filed a lawsuit and declined further comment, stating they would provide documentation at an appropriate time.
Sexton expressed her frustration, noting that her legal team has identified over 25 businesses operating with some combination of the words "Chloe's" and "cookies" across the United States. "They are not being sued, but I am. Furthermore, their name is not Chloe, but mine is," she asserted. A review of business records by the Daily Mail supports this, showing at least six other U.S. businesses with similar names.
Personal Struggles and Business Success
Sexton's journey into baking began during the pandemic after she was fired from her job while pregnant. She used the proceeds from her initial sales to support her dying mother and care for her younger sister, eventually incorporating Chloe's Giant Cookies in May 2024. "The internet blew my life up and made me incredibly successful, which in turn made me financially able to put my mother in hospice and give her dignity when she passed from brain cancer and subsequently start raising my little sister," she shared emotionally.
Despite the legal pressure, Sexton has considered changing her business name to avoid conflict but remains undecided. She emphasized her responsibility to set an example for her sister: "What you work your whole life for, what you have built, is worth fighting for, especially if it is your actual name." She added that her mother would be ashamed if she didn't at least fight back.
Overwhelming Support from the Online Community
The situation took a positive turn when Jen Hamilton, a nurse with 4.6 million TikTok followers, posted a video on Sunday supporting Sexton and criticizing the couple considering the lawsuit. Hamilton's video, which has garnered over 2.6 million views, questioned their motives: "What kind of evil lair s*** y'all got to be on to go after a girl who watched her mother die of brain cancer and then take in her little sister to raise as her own?" She pledged unwavering support for Sexton's decision.
Sexton was livestreaming when she saw Hamilton's video and was moved to laughter and tears. The support translated into tangible success, with over 1,800 cookies preordered in less than an hour, leaving all 13 varieties of her giant cookies sold out. In response, Sexton wrote, "Jen Hamilton, you are one of the most amazing people I haven't met yet. Thank you. I will fight for what I built."
To cover legal expenses, Sexton has set up a GoFundMe campaign, which has raised more than $55,000 as of Tuesday morning. The Daily Mail has reached out to Sexton for further comment, highlighting the ongoing public interest in this David-versus-Goliath legal battle.
