Hip-hop artist GloRilla faces a contentious legal battle after being sued by social media influencer Natalie Henderson, who claims the rapper infringed on her copyright by using the viral phrase “all naturale, no BBL” in a recent song. Henderson, known online as Slimdabodylast, alleges she popularized the expression in early 2024 before incorporating it into her track “All Natural,” which capitalized on the phrase’s viral momentum.
The lawsuit specifically targets GloRilla’s bonus track “Never Find” from her 2024 album “Glorious,” released in October. Henderson asserts that beyond the shared phrase, both songs contain striking similarities in melody, arrangement, and core expression that would be apparent to any layperson listening to the tracks side-by-side. The contested phrase references the Brazilian Butt Lift procedure, emphasizing a natural physique without surgical enhancement.
The legal clash centers on a viral phrase celebrating natural beauty, with both tracks allegedly sharing melodic and thematic elements.
GloRilla and Universal Music have responded by filing a motion to dismiss, arguing that short phrases like “natural[e], no BBL” cannot receive copyright protection under U.S. law. Their legal team highlighted the generic, common, and clichéd nature of the expression, noting at least seven other songs by different artists that employ identical or similar phrasing. Should the case proceed, GloRilla would likely need to register her composition with appropriate performing rights organizations to protect her future royalty interests. This dispute could potentially impact GloRilla’s sync deals revenue, which typically represents a significant income stream for successful artists.
The defense also maintains that GloRilla had no prior knowledge of Henderson’s use of the phrase. The defendants have specifically challenged Henderson’s claims by arguing that social media posts are not eligible for copyright protection. This dispute exemplifies growing tensions between social media creators and mainstream artists over viral language ownership. As catchphrases rapidly spread across platforms in 2024, determining originality and exclusivity becomes increasingly complex.
The case may establish important precedent for how viral social media content can be protected or commercially exploited. Henderson’s lawsuit links her claims to her identity as a social media model who used the phrase in connection with physique posts, while GloRilla’s team emphasizes the phrase’s widespread cultural adoption. This lawsuit adds to GloRilla’s history of successfully defending copyright claims in court, including previous cases against Ivory “Mobo Joe” Paynes and rapper Plies.
The outcome could greatly impact how artists navigate the incorporation of trending expressions that originate in digital spaces but quickly permeate broader cultural conversations.
