LONDON, United Kingdom — In a legal battle that has shocked music fans and the fashion world alike, Mitch Winehouse, father of the late British superstar Amy Winehouse, is suing two of his daughter’s closest friends over the sale of her personal clothes in a series of auctions that reportedly generated around £730,000 ($970,000).

The lawsuit, filed in the High Court in London, names Naomi Parry, Amy’s former stylist, and Catriona Gourlay, a longtime friend of the singer, as defendants. According to Mitch Winehouse, the two women did not have the right to sell more than 150 personal items, including dresses Amy wore during her last tour in June 2011, just a month before her tragic death from alcohol poisoning at the age of 27.

“These items belonged to Amy. They were not theirs to sell,” Mitch Winehouse declared in court, according to lawyer Henry Legge, who is representing him. “The proceeds should have gone to her estate and partially to the Amy Winehouse Foundation, as intended.”

The auction, organized by Los Angeles-based Julien’s Auctions between November 2021 and May 2023, included some of Winehouse’s most recognizable outfits, such as the green bamboo dress Parry designed for Amy’s final tour — a piece that alone fetched $243,200 at the auction. Mitch Winehouse insists that a third of all proceeds should have been donated to the Amy Winehouse Foundation, a charity established in her name to help young people build confidence, hope, and independence.

FRIENDS FIGHT BACK

The defendants vehemently deny wrongdoing. Amy’s friend Catriona Gourlay, through lawyer Ted Loveday, argues that most of the items were gifts or loans given to them by Amy herself.

“If a 19-year-old gives a scarf or a pair of earrings to their friends, no one signs a contract,” Loveday told the court. “Amy was incredibly generous. This lawsuit ignores that generosity and tries to criminalize friendship.”

Parry’s lawyer, Beth Grossman, added that her client and Gourlay were not thieves, nor dishonest, claiming that Mitch Winehouse’s lawsuit stems from “petty jealousy” — a statement strongly denied by the singer’s father.

“You’re wrong,” Mitch fired back in court, responding to Grossman’s accusation.

Grossman also highlighted the stark financial differences between Mitch Winehouse, a multi-millionaire, and the two women who, she argued, are “living pretty much hand to mouth.”

ICONIC MEMORABILIA AND LEGACY AT STAKE

Amy Winehouse’s fashion and personal items are not just clothes — they are cultural artifacts, representing her unique style, personality, and place in music history. From her signature beehive hairstyle to her smoky voice and bold tattoos, Amy’s image became iconic worldwide.

Parry, as her stylist, helped craft some of the singer’s most memorable looks, contributing to the global image that became synonymous with Amy Winehouse. The lawsuit has drawn attention not only from fans of her music but also from collectors, fashion historians, and media outlets, raising questions about ownership, legacy, and rights to a celebrity’s personal belongings after death.

According to court documents, Winehouse believed that all auction proceeds should be returned to him or directed to the foundation. Mitch Winehouse’s legal team claims that neither Parry nor Gourlay adhered to this, failing to donate the promised portion of proceeds.

A LEGAL AND EMOTIONAL SHOWDOWN

The court hearing, which began Monday, is expected to continue through Friday, with a judgment to be announced later. Observers say the case highlights the emotional stakes of managing a celebrity estate and the potentially explosive conflicts between family members and friends of late stars.

“This is about respect for Amy’s memory, not just money,” Legge emphasized. “We are ensuring her legacy and the charitable work she believed in are protected.”

The defendants’ lawyers, however, stress the personal history between Amy and the women: meeting in the early 2000s before her meteoric rise, sharing personal moments, and enjoying her generosity firsthand.

FAN REACTIONS AND PUBLIC INTEREST

Fans around the world have been following the case closely, often expressing outrage on social media. Many support Mitch Winehouse, claiming that friends should never have sold such personal belongings, while others sympathize with Parry and Gourlay, pointing to Amy’s generosity and lack of formal contracts.

The trial has reignited discussions about the rights of celebrities’ estates versus personal gifts, a topic that resonates in the age of high-profile auctions and memorabilia trading.

THE LEGACY OF AMY WINEHOUSE

Amy Winehouse remains one of the most celebrated British artists of her generation. Her 2006 Grammy-winning album “Back to Black”, featuring hits like “Rehab”, chronicled her battles with addiction and cemented her as a voice of raw emotion and authenticity.

Even years after her death, Amy’s music and image continue to captivate new generations. A new film marking 10 years since her passing is also in production, adding further attention to the ongoing legal battle and the preservation of her legacy.

Whether Mitch Winehouse will succeed in reclaiming the proceeds or whether Parry and Gourlay will defend their right to the items remains to be seen, but the case has already captured international headlines.

WHAT’S NEXT?

The London High Court will continue hearing testimonies and examining evidence until Friday, with the final judgment scheduled afterward. The outcome will have implications not just for the parties involved, but also for how celebrity estates, personal property, and posthumous rights are handled in the UK and beyond.

As the world watches, the battle over Amy Winehouse’s iconic clothes serves as a reminder that even after death, the lives, choices, and friendships of celebrities can become complex legal and emotional flashpoints — and that legacy is never just about fame, but also about respect, memory, and the promises made to those left behind.