Kim Kardashian’s multibillion-dollar shapewear empire is the latest celebrity brand to face a legal battle over labor practices. On Wednesday, May 13, 2026, a class-action lawsuit was filed against Skims Body, Inc. by a former employee alleging significant wage and hour violations during his tenure at the company’s California operations.
The plaintiff, identified as David Knight, filed the complaint in California, seeking to represent a class of similarly situated workers. According to the court documents, Knight worked for Skims from October 2025 to December 2025. The Skims unpaid wages lawsuit May 2026 alleges a variety of labor law infractions, including:
• Failure to Pay Overtime: Claims that employees frequently worked over 8 hours a day or 40 hours a week without receiving legally mandated overtime pay.
• Missing Meal and Rest Periods: Allegations that the company failed to provide the required 30-minute meal breaks and 10-minute rest periods.
• Minimum Wage Violations: Claims that the total compensation for all hours worked fell below the state’s minimum wage requirements.
• Final Pay Discrepancies: Allegations that Skims failed to pay all wages owed immediately upon the resignation or discharge of employees.
Skims has wasted no time in firing back against the accusations. In a statement released shortly after the filing, a representative for the brand labeled the lawsuit “BS” and suggested it was part of a broader trend of “fishing” for settlements.
“Skims denies the allegations in this complaint,” the spokesperson stated. “This is a boilerplate filing—the same recycled template plaintiffs’ firms send to employers across California. We have no interest in settling claims without merit. Skims is and always has been firmly committed to compliance with California wage and hour law, and we look forward to demonstrating that in court.”
While Skims is valued at roughly $5 billion, this isn’t the only legal headache the brand has navigated in 2026. Earlier this year, the company agreed to a $200,000 settlement with the New Jersey Attorney General over allegations it improperly collected sales tax on tax-exempt items. Additionally, a New York designer recently filed a trademark suit over the “Fits Everybody” collection name.
Despite the mounting litigation, the brand continues to dominate the market. However, this latest labor dispute could prove more complicated given California’s strict employee protection laws. While Kim Kardashian herself is not named as a direct defendant, the outcome of the case will undoubtedly impact the public perception of her flagship company.
