It’s one of the most iconic moments in Purple Rain: Apollonia strips down and steps into the waters of Lake Minnetonka, told by Prince’s character that she must “purify herself” before joining his band.
That scene cemented Apollonia Kotero—then a rising actress and singer—as a lasting figure in pop culture. Four decades later, her association with that role has become the center of a legal fight with Prince’s estate.
On August 19, Kotero filed a lawsuit against Paisley Park Enterprises LLC, the entity managing Prince’s business since he died in 2016, according to Billboard.
In the complaint, she accuses the estate of trying to “steal” her professional name, Apollonia, through trademark challenges. “There is only one Apollonia,” her lawyer Daniel Cislo wrote, emphasizing that she has used the name for nearly 40 years across music, acting, and even podcasting.
Kotero argues that Prince himself not only allowed but encouraged her to use the moniker throughout her career. After Purple Rain, she recorded “Sex Shooter,” which charted on the Billboard Hot 100, and collaborated with Prince on songs like “Take Me With U” and “Manic Monday,” the latter becoming a hit for The Bangles. She also appeared on the TV series Falcon Crest and released a solo album in 1988.
The lawsuit alleges that since Prince’s passing, his heirs have launched “an aggressive campaign” to cancel Kotero’s trademarks and claim ownership of the name before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board.
The estate reportedly argues that Kotero surrendered rights to “Apollonia” when she signed her Purple Rain contract in the 1980s. However, her legal team dismisses that argument as meritless, pointing out that even if such a contract existed, the statute of limitations has long since expired.
Kotero is now asking the court to declare her the rightful owner of the name formally. She says the estate’s actions threaten her livelihood and identity, undoing a legacy that Prince himself supported.
As of this writing, representatives for Prince’s estate have not publicly responded to the lawsuit.
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