Taylor Lautner as Bench Endorser Might Cause a Legal Battle Between the Clothing Brand and the Actor's Lawyers

One day after he announced in his Philippine Star Funfare column that Philippines well-known clothing brand "Bench" was tapping Taylor Lautner of Twilight to endorse its products, entertainment writer Ricky Lo clarified today in his column that his source for the news did not come from Bench but from his sosyalita DPA (Deep Penetrating Agent) who also did not say the specific type of apparel that Lautner would model. "The story didn’t say that there was any negotiation at all," Lo clarified.

Bench, however, has refuted the report that the hunk Hollywood actor is their newest endorser, saying: “‘Twilight’ star Taylor Lautner is NOT the new international endorser of Bench.”

Joyce Ramirez, Director for International Publicity of PR Asia Worldwide, the agency behind “Gossip Girl” star Ed Westwick’s endorsement for Bench's rival brand "Penshoppe" dismissed the Lautner-Bench collaboration, saying: “It doesn’t exist. There’s no authorization from the US agency. It’s illegal to use the name of an international artist without endorsement contracts.”

Ramirez also stated in a separate press statement, said that she is in constant communication with US-based WME Entertainment, the same US agency that represents Lautner and Westwick that “Lautner's lawyers are now discussing all probable legal rights they have against the brand who used his name for the free publicity.”