Drag Queen ‘Pattie Gonia’ Responds to Patagonia: ‘Drop the Lawsuit’

Drag queen and environmental activist Pattie Gonia (real name Wyn Wiley) has publicly responded to Patagonia’s trademark infringement lawsuit, declaring she will fight it and calling on the outdoor apparel company to drop the case. In an open letter and Instagram post, Wiley expressed fear and frustration, calling the lawsuit “a corporation trying to erase an activist” rather than a genuine brand conflict.

Patagonia sued Wiley in January 2026 in California federal court, seeking only $1 in damages but requesting over $1 million in attorney’s fees. The company alleges Wiley violated a 2022 agreement by selling merchandise like “Pattie Gonia Hiking Club” t-shirts and filing to trademark her name in September 2025. Wiley denies ever using Patagonia’s logo or font on her merchandise and argues drag is built on parody and puns, offering to never parody their logo again.

Wiley filed for the trademark to protect herself after witnessing fellow drag queen Cody Barnes lose bookings, music, and social media when another actress used the same moniker. She directly appealed to Patagonia founder Yvon Chouinard, noting the company’s stated mission to “save our home planet” and asking both sides to make peace and return to their shared love of the Patagonia region in South America that inspired both names. Her legal team has demanded a jury trial, arguing there’s no likelihood of consumer confusion between the drag persona and the outdoor brand. Gear Junkie