The legal showdown between two Amazon influencers with eerily similar styles is finally nearing its conclusion. Recently, both women asked a judge to dismiss the copyright lawsuit after more than a year of legal back-and-forth — a case that drew plenty of attention and sparked plenty of questions about originality in the influencer world.
This unusual case centered on two influencers whose content and aesthetic—featuring neutral tones like white, beige, and cream—began to mirror each other almost obsessively. Their lives and feeds, filled with similar product promotions and visual themes, created a story that’s both fascinating and unsettling. While the shared aesthetic was fairly common, the extent of their similarities, documented through dozens of court-submitted examples, made this case stand out.
What makes this lawsuit especially noteworthy is that it’s believed to be one of the first of its kind targeting influencer content. The plaintiff, Sydney Nicole Sloneker, formerly Gifford, accused her fellow Amazon influencer, Alyssa Sheil, of copyright infringement for posting similar photos and videos promoting the same products. Gifford also claimed trade dress infringement and misappropriation of likeness—arguing that Sheil’s content closely resembled her own, or perhaps vice versa.
Sheil’s legal team responded by asserting that she would not be paying any damages and that in some cases, she had actually taken the photos and videos prior to Gifford. For example, Gifford claimed Sheil copied a photo of the two women in black leather jackets, but Sheil’s attorney revealed that metadata proved she had taken the photo five days earlier. Sheil’s spokesperson stated, “I could have caved to Gifford’s demands, but this was a larger fight to set a precedent that young minority entrepreneurs won’t be bullied.” She also emphasized that she plans to continue creating Amazon-related content and is ready to move forward—adding that she hasn’t heard from Amazon about the case.
Meanwhile, Gifford announced on TikTok that she’s decided to step away from the lawsuit, citing the financial and emotional toll of a drawn-out trial. One of her attorneys summarized the decision, saying, “Settling this case allows Gifford to focus on what matters most to her. Ultimately, the court of public opinion will decide who was right or wrong.”
Though this beige-themed influencer dispute may be winding down, the core questions it raises remain highly relevant. Who owns an online persona? Is influencer content considered art? And how do social media algorithms shape the visual landscape of our feeds?
In today’s digital age, content creators are driven to optimize relentlessly to stand out. Unfortunately, the same systems that enable influencers like Gifford and Sheil to build careers also foster environments where mimicry thrives. It’s now common for influencers to appear as mirror images—promoting identical products and maintaining similar aesthetics—because social media algorithms prioritize scale and trendiness over uniqueness.
The Gifford vs. Sheil case might be a high-profile example, but it’s unlikely to be the last. As influencer culture continues to evolve, questions about creativity, ownership, and authenticity will only become more complex—and more important—to address.
