Fashion designer Kelly Nishimoto has accused Paula Abdul and Kate Hudson of being linked to alleged attempts to secure free clothes, calling the requests 'tacky' and questioning why high-profile celebrities would expect independent designers to give away their work.
Nishimoto made the claims on her Hairbrush News podcast, where she said she had encountered celebrities who 'just don't like to pay'. But while her comments have put Abdul and Hudson at the centre of the controversy, the designer's account relates specifically to their stylists rather than claiming either celebrity personally made the requests.
That distinction has become a key part of the fallout, with Abdul's representative rejecting the suggestion that the singer would expect an emerging designer to absorb the cost, while other fashion insiders have argued that stylists can sometimes be responsible for such requests.
Paula Abdul's American Idol Clothes
Nishimoto's most detailed allegation involved Abdul and clothing borrowed for her appearances on American Idol.
The designer said Abdul's stylist pulled several pieces from her collection for the singer to wear on the programme. According to Nishimoto, the stylist later contacted her and said Abdul wanted to keep three of the pieces.
Nishimoto said she agreed to send an invoice for the clothes, only to be told that Abdul had been hoping they would be gifted. That reportedly frustrated the designer because she was struggling financially at the time, including with rent and the costs of paying her small team.
Nishimoto said the three pieces were worth about $1,000, or roughly £740, and questioned why she should be expected to give away that amount of stock while running a small fashion business. She also said she expected to be paid for the clothes Abdul wanted to keep and for the dry-cleaning costs associated with the other pieces that had been loaned.
According to Nishimoto, the clothes were eventually returned after it became clear they would not be given away.
'I thought that was so tacky,' she said.
Kate Hudson's Free Leggings Request
Nishimoto also named Hudson in connection with another alleged request involving her stylist. She claimed Hudson's stylist approached her about getting a pair of leggings for the actress. Nishimoto said she was particularly surprised because Hudson had her own activewear business, Fabletics.
Rather than simply sending the leggings for free, Nishimoto said she offered to provide an invoice.
She claimed the conversation then went quiet.
'And then I never heard back,' Nishimoto said. 'I mean, c'mon. Really?'
As with the Abdul allegation, Nishimoto did not say Hudson herself personally made the request. Her account was specifically about the actress's stylist.
That distinction matters because a celebrity's wardrobe team can be involved in sourcing clothes, negotiating loans and managing relationships with designers without every request necessarily coming directly from the star.
Abdul Pushes Back on the Claim
Abdul's representative has rejected the suggestion that the singer would expect an independent designer to pay out of pocket for her clothes.
In a statement to Page Six, the representative said Abdul 'has and continues to support up-and-coming female businesses' and 'would never ask someone to come out of pocket'.
The statement directly challenges the impression that Abdul personally demanded free clothing and provides an important counterpoint to Nishimoto's account.
A representative for Hudson was also contacted for comment.
Stylists Become the Focus
The debate has also shifted towards the role of celebrity stylists. Designer Michael Costello defended Abdul, saying the singer had always behaved professionally and had paid in full for clothes from his company.
Celebrity makeup artist Ernesto Casillas also argued that responsibility could lie with stylists rather than celebrities.
'This is on the stylist, not the client,' Casillas wrote, suggesting stylists may sometimes try to avoid using their own budgets.
His argument highlights the complicated economics behind celebrity dressing. Designers may loan clothes in the hope of publicity, while stylists can negotiate purchases, returns or complimentary pieces on behalf of their clients.
Why the Designer Is Speaking Out
Nishimoto's frustration is also rooted in her experience running a small fashion business. After 22 years, she announced in February that she was closing her brand, describing the decision as the end of an era and saying she wanted to spend more time with her family and explore new creative ideas.
That background gives context to her anger over the alleged requests. For a major celebrity, a single outfit may represent a relatively small expense, but for an independent designer, giving away hundreds of pounds of clothing can have a very different impact.
Nishimoto has turned the controversy into a broader question about celebrity fashion etiquette: should stars and their teams expect independent designers to provide clothes for free simply because the exposure could be valuable?
For now, the competing accounts leave one question unresolved. Nishimoto says she was asked to provide clothing without payment, while Abdul's representative disputes the suggestion that the singer would ask a small business to absorb the cost and industry figures have pointed towards stylists.
What began as a complaint about celebrity freebies has consequently become a wider debate over who should pay when Hollywood comes calling.
