Mitch Winehouse has launched legal action in the Winehouse auction dispute, claiming two friends sold Amy Winehouse’s belongings without consent. Acting as administrator of his daughter’s estate, he is suing stylist Naomi Parry and friend Catriona Gourlay for profiting from auctions in the United States in 2021 and 2023. The Winehouse auction dispute has drawn attention because it involves rare items, including clothing from Amy Winehouse’s last performances.
Lawyers for the estate stated that Mr Winehouse was not informed before dozens of items were auctioned. They added he had no choice but to seek legal clarity. Court documents revealed that one item, a silk mini-dress worn by Winehouse in Belgrade, sold for $243,200.
Both women insist the items were either gifts or already in their possession. Ms Parry’s lawyers said she became Amy Winehouse’s stylist in 2006 and often stayed at her Camden property. She claimed most items were already hers before Amy’s death. Ms Gourlay’s team added she lived with Winehouse between 2004 and 2005 and often exchanged items. She continued to receive gifts as Amy Winehouse’s career advanced.
The Winehouse auction dispute intensified after Mr Winehouse declined a 2014 auction proposal. The auction went ahead in 2021, raising about $1.4 million. Thirty percent of the proceeds went to the Amy Winehouse Foundation. However, Mr Winehouse claims the women did not clarify which items belonged to them, leaving him to believe all lots were estate property.
Evidence shows Ms Parry sold roughly 50 items for around $878,183. Ms Gourlay sold about 90 items for $334,113. Mr Winehouse testified that while he expected some gifts, he found 150 claimed items unbelievable. He also said he felt misled by their involvement in the auctions.
The trial, led by Deputy High Court Judge Sarah Clarke, continues this week. The outcome of the Winehouse auction dispute could affect how celebrity estates manage and sell memorabilia in future cases.
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