Tyshawn Jones Sues Supreme for $26 Million, Alleging Breach of Contract & Defamation

Pro skateboarder Tyshawn Jones is taking Supreme to court in a $26 million lawsuit, accusing the iconic streetwear label of breach of contract, fraud, and a targeted effort to damage his career.

Jones, a two-time Thrasher Skater of the Year, one of the sport’s brightest stars, an adidas athlete with his signature sneaker, and a Supreme team rider from the age of 13, alleges that Supreme abruptly ended their endorsement partnership and removed him from marketing campaigns in early 2024, over a full year before his contract was set to expire. The filing claims Supreme accused Jones of breaching his exclusivity agreement after appearing in a Marc Jacobs photoshoot, despite years of allegedly permitting and encouraging similar modeling work with other luxury brands.

Contract Dispute With Supreme

“This action arises from Defendant’s breach and wrongful termination of an endorsement arrangement with Plaintiffs…without due notice or opportunity to cure,” reads the opening of the verified complaint. The suit, brought by Jones and his company Grind Hard Holdings Corp., alleges that Supreme’s termination was not only procedurally flawed but also financially motivated. Specifically, it argues that Supreme sought to “free up capital following the recent acquisition of its brand at a $600M loss to the seller” and avoid paying out the full value of the stock options Jones held in the company.

Under the terms of a February 2024 agreement, Supreme was to pay Jones $1 million annually through December 2025. The agreement also required that either party provide 30 days’ notice and an opportunity to cure any alleged breach before terminating. However, Jones claims Supreme disregarded this clause entirely. “The Agreement does not contain language providing for an immediate termination by either party,” the lawsuit states, asserting that Supreme’s conduct “constitutes a breach and anticipatory repudiation of the agreement.”

Defamation Claim

However, the most explosive allegations in the lawsuit center on Supreme’s post-termination behavior. Jones claims that Supreme executives—including founder James Jebbia—deliberately and falsely told influential people in the fashion and skateboarding industries that he had been “kicked off” the team due to bad behavior. “Supreme agents told multiple third parties ‘Tyshawn was kicked off Supreme’ for breaching his agreement,” the complaint states.

One such incident allegedly occurred during Paris Fashion Week in January 2025, when renowned fashion photographer Bolade Banjo told Jones that Supreme staff had blamed him for their falling out. Banjo, who had shot Jones for the disputed Marc Jacobs campaign, reportedly said he was told “the reason you guys aren’t doing business anymore is because of the photos I shot,” according to the complaint.

Jones’s legal team argues that such statements were especially damaging given his reputation as one of the world’s top skateboarders and a major figure in streetwear and luxury fashion. “Tyshawn trades on his reputation and earns a living from similar deals with brands and fashion houses globally,” the lawsuit notes, adding that Supreme’s comments “have tainted his reputation within a luxury brand ecosystem.”

Financial Impact & Damages Sought

Adding to the financial toll, Jones alleges that Supreme’s termination came just weeks before the brand was sold from VF Corporation to EssilorLuxottica for $1.5 billion. Because the terms of Jones’s stock options required him to be employed at the time of the deal’s closing, his termination cost him a significant payout, the suit claims. Tyshawn is seeking at least $1.25 million in unpaid endorsement fees, $25 million in reputational damages, and additional punitive damages stemming from what they characterize as Supreme’s “willful and malicious” conduct.

Tyshawn spoke with the New York Post on Monday, stating, “I am saddened it has come to this, but I have a duty to myself and my career, and feel a responsibility to the next generation of skateboarders to stand up for what is right.” We’ll have to see how this all plays out in real time, as this initial filing is the start of legal proceedings for Jones’ lawsuit against Supreme. As of now, Supreme has yet to file a formal response.

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Nicholas Vlahos

Sneakerhead from South Florida who turned his passion into a career. When not writing for Sole Retriever, I enjoy attending concerts and catching the latest movies. Email: nick@soleretriever.com