There is an ongoing controversy surrounding a collection of memorabilia allegedly linked to the late King of Rock and Roll, Elvis Presley. Graceland representatives recently expressed skepticism about the authenticity of several items featured in the auction, sparking concern among collectors and fans.
The auction house claimed that they have a collection of artifacts purportedly owned or used by the musician during his lifetime. Compounding the situation, the auction house is currently in a legal battle with Elvis’s former wife, Priscilla Presley, who has been responsible for authenticating many of the items in question.
Graceland Estate gives reason for their suspicion
In an interview with NBC News, Joel Weinshanker, the managing partner of Elvis Presley Enterprises, expressed his initial doubts about a black grommet jacket that GWS Auctions, owned by Brigitte Kruse, claimed Presley wore in 1972. He emphasized that the jacket was not just any memorabilia but a special limited edition, with only one piece ever made exclusively for Presley.
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He elaborated that during their most recent visit to Graceland, they thoroughly reviewed their private collection, which confirmed that the unique jacket in question was still safely stored. Weinshanker noted that this discovery further intensified his skepticism about the jacket’s authenticity and its purported association with the late singer.
Priscilla Presley sues Brigitte Kruse
Kruse and Priscilla, long-time collaborators, are now entangled in legal disputes. Last year, Kruse initiated a lawsuit against Priscilla, claiming she breached their contract by reneging on an agreement that granted his company exclusive rights to manage her name, image, and likeness.
However, in a recent countersuit, Priscilla alleged that Kruse and three associates duped her to the tune of $1 million. She contended that instead of assisting her in managing her finances and leveraging her name, image, and likeness as promised, they manipulated and defrauded her.