Rebekah Vardy adds more fuel to bitter legal battle with Coleen Rooney by ‘applying to trademark “Wagatha”‘
Rebecca Vardy has added fuel to her bitter legal battle with Coleen Rooney by applying to trademark the name “Vagatha”, it is claimed.
The media personality, 41, registered the term Vagata Christi six months ago, referring to the vicious showdown between the two VAGs.
Rebecca took Coleen, 37, to the High Court for defamation – and lost – after Coleen claimed in October 2019 that stories about her had been leaked to the press from Rebecca’s social media account.
Vagatha Christie’s phrase it was coined by comedian Dan Atkinson in 2019 and was protected eight months ago by London Entertainment Inc Ltd, which is the company of Rebecca’s friend Saphia Makamed.
Rebecca has now reportedly used London Entertainment to apply for a new trademark with the Intellectual Property Office on September 7, according to Sun.
Fight: Rebecca Vardy has added fuel to her bitter legal battle with Coleen Rooney by filing to trademark the name ‘Vagatha’, it has been claimed
Rivals: Rebecca took Coleen Rooney to the High Court for defamation – and lost – last year
It comes as another blow to Colin, whose Disney+ docu-series The True Wagata Story is due to be released on October 18.
The trademark is said to be seeking coverage in areas such as toiletries, household products, jewellery, beverages and TV shows.
The wife of Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy signed with Saphia’s agency four years ago.
Her trademark Vagatha Christie covers broadcasting, apparel, soft drinks, education and beauty and she now has the right to authorize its use by others, and they will have to pay if she allows it.
The source said Sun during a previous submission: “This trademark is Becky’s two fingers Colin and all the misery associated with ‘Vagatha Christie.’ Becky is perceptive and knew people would try to cash in on that phrase.
“She now owns the UK trademark and would consider extending it to other territories if she felt it was necessary.”
“If someone wanted to print a logo on a mug, for example, they would be infringing on a trademark if they didn’t ask for permission.” However, it is a legal gray area in some respects, and it will be done on a case-by-case basis.’
MailOnline has contacted Rebecca’s rep for comment.
The feud between Colin and Rebecca has reignited in recent weeks, as Colin needs to tell his side of the drama-filled story in a Disney+ documentary coming out on October 18.
Bittersweet: Rebecca Vardy, above, took Coleen Rooney, above, to the High Court for defamation – and lost
Rebecca then took to Instagram to slam her rival.
After a fan accused her of being jealous of Colin, Rebecca hit back: “Jealous of what exactly! Spare me the pain seriously… I wouldn’t stand my husband sleeping with whores! No excuses.’
During the High Court trial, Ms Steyn said in her judgment in July that it was “likely” Ms Vardy’s agent Caroline Watt “undertook the direct act” of passing the information to The Sun.
The judge said: “In my view, the evidence clearly shows that Ms Vardy knew and approved of this conduct, actively engaging in it.”
Rebekah was ordered to pay up to £1.5 million in Colin’s legal costs after losing the case, but she still insists she is not to blame.
And in the documentary series Vardy v Rooney: The Wagatta Trial, Rebecca also claims the mole is still relaying Rooney’s stories to The Sun – which she also says proves her innocence.
“The irony is that since I was removed as a follower, the Rooney stories have been coming thick and fast,” she said.
A friend of Rebecca’s said the VAG’s suspicions were fueled when a story was published in The Sun earlier this year, which suggested Wayne Rooney would have a ‘companion’ when he was away from Colin, who is working in the US.
Where it started: In a tweet and on Instagram, Coleen said Rebecca’s account leaked information about her. It sparked a wave of social media backlash and saw her dubbed ‘Vagatha Christie’
Original: Comedian Dan Atkinson appears to have coined the phrase ‘Vagatha Christie’ – but spelled it wrong
Mother-of-five Rebecca is in fierce form in the documentary, giving an interview dressed head-to-toe in black leather.
At one point she snaps that she has ‘zero tolerance for this bull****’, adding: ‘I just find the whole thing really ****bizarre.’
She was on holiday in Dubai with her husband, Leicester striker Jamie Vardy, 36, when Coleen made the allegations on Twitter and Instagram about the leak.
Rebecca said: “I felt physically ill at the time. I think that must have been the biggest panic attack ever. I was totally shocked. What next? That’s the million dollar question.
“I couldn’t understand why anyone would do that.” Why would someone do that knowing that someone is vulnerable, knowing the impact that such a thing will cause. It’s going to cause like a ***-storm – a huge one – and it is.’
Referring to a fake story about a flooded basement in Colin’s new Cheshire mansion, Rebecca insisted: ‘I first read about the flooded basement in the Daily Mail online. I love how they blame me for it, amazing.
“If I were selling stories, where are the ‘Give this to the Sun’ messages?” “Make sure I get paid for this.” Where are they? There are none – because they don’t exist.’
The High Court awarded a punitive action for legal costs and Rebekah was told to pay 90 per cent of Coleen’s costs.
This is partly because key evidence was destroyed after Ms Watt accidentally dropped her phone in the North Sea.
Rebecca with her lawyer Hugh Tomlinson KC during the trial last May. Her trademark covers everything from broadcasting to clothing and soft drinks
Coleen was ordered to pay Rebecca up to £1.5 million towards her legal bills
Cole’s legal team have not yet released a final figure for the costs, but the latest figure presented to the court was £1,667,860. If that remains unchanged, 90 per cent of that would be £1.5m.
Mrs Justice Stein ruled for 90 per cent, admitting there were certain issues justifying Coleen paying for some cases, including her “weak” claim that Rebecca was one of the people behind The Sun’s “Secret Vag” column which “added significantly’ to the work of Rebecca’s lawyers.
The total amount of Rebecca’s legal costs is not known, but is expected to be at a similar level to Coleen’s.
The final figure may be reduced if Rebecca does not agree to pay 90 percent, and the court later deems some costs unreasonable.