Chloe Sexton, the owner of Chloe’s Giant Cookies in Memphis, Tennessee, says her small business is now in a legal fight over its name. She shared in a recent Instagram Reel that a Florida-based company has sued her, claiming her bakery name is too similar to theirs. Sexton said she received the legal notice on November 20, 2025, just three days after announcing on November 17 that she would appear on Gordon Ramsay’s first baking competition show. The timing, she said, felt overwhelming. Since going public, she has received massive online support. Orders for her cookies have jumped, and her GoFundMe campaign raised more than $33,000 within the first few hours. The case has quickly turned into a wider online debate about small businesses, brand names, and fairness.
Chloe Sexton and Jen Hamilton respond after Fort Myers-based Chloe’s Cookies files lawsuit over business name
According to local outlet This Is Memphis, the lawsuit was filed by Chloe’s Cookies, a company based in Fort Myers, Florida. The Florida brand has reportedly been operating for several years. On its official website, the company says its name was inspired by the owner’s rescue dog, who is also a cancer survivor.In her Instagram video, Chloe Sexton explained that her attorneys researched similar names and found more than 25 businesses across the United States using some combination of “Chloe” and “Cookies.” She said, “They’re not being sued, but I am. Furthermore, their name is not Chloe, mine is.” That point has become central to her defense, since “Chloe” is her real name.Sexton also said she tried to settle the issue privately. “I did make the offer to meet, as just people, without lawyers present, and speak one-on-one on what we can do to make everybody involved happy,” she shared. “It was expressed that they have absolutely no interest in speaking to me.” She added that she does not wish harm on anyone involved but hoped the matter could have been handled in a more personal way.The Memphis baker also opened up about her personal life. After losing her mother to brain cancer, she began raising her younger sister. That responsibility, she said, is part of why she plans to fight the lawsuit. “I’m not only responsible for what I want to do with my own comfort, but I’m also responsible for the example that I set for my little sister,” she explained. “What you work your whole life for, what you’ve built is worth fighting for. Especially if it is your actual name.”Influencer Jen Hamilton later posted a video backing Sexton. She questioned why a company would sue a baker using her own name and told followers the community should stand together. Hamilton also claimed that supporters had raised hundreds of thousands of dollars in just days to help with legal costs.After both videos gained traction, Chloe’s Giant Cookies saw a surge in orders. More than 1,000 people donated to the fundraiser, showing how quickly online communities can rally when a small business faces a legal battle.
