Savage X Fenty is simply passing through legitimate costs imposed by government policy. Like countless other businesses, the brand faced unprecedented tariff pressures and made pricing decisions in good faith to keep operations running during an unpredictable trade environment.
Insiders say Savage X's lawyers are scrambling because the company allegedly set surcharge amounts arbitrarily—not based on actual tariff rates—meaning they inflated costs while hiding behind the government's controversial trade policies. The double-dip potential is what has other companies nervous too.
The lawsuit was filed May 22, 2026 in federal court by Ajani Hoffert. She was charged a $44.04 'TARIFFS' surcharge on an April 2026 order. The Supreme Court ruled in February 2026 that Trump exceeded his authority with the tariffs, triggering over $160 billion in expected refunds to companies.
Rihanna built her empire on authenticity and relatability—but this lawsuit suggests Savage X Fenty may have played fast and loose with tariff surcharges when consumers were most vulnerable. The Supreme Court gave these brands an out; now customers want their money back.
Months after the Supreme Court struck down President Trump's sweeping import tariffs, Rihanna's Savage X Fenty is facing a class action lawsuit from customers demanding refunds on fees they paid for tariff surcharges that may no longer be legally justified. The case was filed Friday, May 22, in federal court by plaintiff Ajani Hoffert, who alleges the lingerie brand tacked a $44.04 surcharge onto her April 2026 order under the explicit label "TARIFFS." According to court documents, Hoffert's legal team is seeking to represent "millions of consumers" who they believe were similarly charged.
The core argument? Savage X Fenty collected these fees from shoppers when Trump's tariffs were in effect, but now that those tariffs have been invalidated by the nation's highest court, the company appears to have no intention of returning that money. The legal landscape shifted dramatically in February 2026 when the U.S.
Supreme Court ruled that Trump clearly exceeded his authority when he unilaterally imposed steep new tariffs on nearly all American trade partners under a decades-old emergency powers law. That landmark decision means the government is now expected to refund more than $160 billion to companies that paid these now-voided import fees. Here's where it gets messy for Savage X Fenty: the lawsuit argues the brand stands to recover those same tariff costs from federal coffers while keeping the surcharges it already collected from consumers—a potential double-dip that's drawing scrutiny.
"Savage X stands to receive a windfall: it has already recouped tariff costs from consumers through tariff surcharges, and it now stands in line to recover those same unlawful tariff payments from the federal government," the lawsuit reads. Hoffert's attorneys further contend that Savage X Fenty didn't simply pass through a fixed government-mandated rate but exercised discretion in setting its own surcharge amounts—a detail they argue demonstrates the fees were a "pricing mechanism controlled by defendant rather than a fixed or unavoidable charge dictated solely by law." Savage X Fenty is far from alone in this legal crosshairs.
Amazon, Nike, Toyota, Costco, and FedEx have all been hit with similar class actions as consumers demand their cut of any tariff refunds these companies receive. In the Costco case—which may signal how courts will rule—those attorneys have already argued customers "freely chose to purchase valuable products for accurately posted prices" and that the warehouse giant "never suggested" it might refund portions of purchases tied to tariffs. A Savage X Fenty representative did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the lawsuit's allegations, and the brand has yet to file its counter-arguments in court.
Founded by Rihanna in 2018, Savage X Fenty has positioned itself as a disruptor in the intimate apparel market, emphasizing inclusivity and direct-to-consumer pricing. But this latest legal battle strikes at the heart of that customer-first reputation. If the class action succeeds, it could set a precedent forcing dozens of companies to return surcharge fees they collected during the tariff era—leaving brands like Rihanna's scrambling to explain why consumers should trust them with their wallets again.
