Scottish designer says Traitors design was 'stolen' by NBC

Siobhan Mackenzie designed a jumper for Alan Cumming on the US Traitors

A Scottish designer says her work, featured on the US version of The Traitors, has been "stolen" by NBC.

Siobhan Mackenzie designed a sleeveless jumper for presenter Alan Cumming to wear on the hit reality TV show.

Her design reads "Murrrder" in glitter font, but the phrase has also been printed on merchandise sold by US TV network NBC, which produces the American series.

"The Traitors Hoodie Murrrder" is being sold online for $49.95 (£36.60), while a T-shirt with the phrase costs $27.95 (£20.48). NBC has been approached for comment.

The TV show sees contestants competing as Faithfuls attempting to uncover the hidden Traitors, who in turn secretly eliminate Faithfuls as they all vie for the cash prize.

The programme is filmed at Ardross Castle, north of Inverness and has become famous for its Highland locations as well as Cummings' Scottish-themed outfits.

Mackenzie has designed several outfits in the past for the US and UK versions of the programme.

She told BBC Scotland News: "As a small Scottish independent brand, I had designed something for Alan Cumming in season four of the US version of the Traitors.

"This was purchased as a retail transaction, there was no transfer of intellectual property rights or anything of that regard.

"NBC, for their merchandise store, have taken my idea and my design and put that across a variety of products without my consent or knowledge."

'Everything I don't stand for'

Mackenzie, who also created the tartan for the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, said she had tried to speak to the company over the last few weeks.

However she said she had not received a response until she told the company she would make the dispute public.

The designer said it was "particularly upsetting" to have no say in a product that reflects her brand, which values "craftsmanship".

"It's everything I don't stand for, these mass-produced garments that have been put on sale without my consent," she added.

"They didn't even have the decency to tell me they would be using my idea."

She said she only found out about the merchandise designs when she saw comments from Traitors fans and googled it.

"It was labelled as 'best sellers', so they've obviously sold quite a number of units," Mackenzie added.

Mackenzie said she wanted the products to stop being sold as well as an apology from the TV network.

"I want an explanation as to why this happened and how it happened, who allowed it to happen," she said.

"I imagine a corporation like NBC, there's probably a few layers to get through before anything is live and they have their name to it."

She said there was a "huge power imbalance" between large corporations and small independent brands.

"This happens all too frequently to small brands and small creatives where large corporations like that just take without asking or without a discussion.

"They just take it because you don't have the same facilities and money behind you to take on a company like NBC."

She added: "It's just so frustrating.

"Had NBC approached me about a partnership or collaborating, I would have welcomed the idea and had say over how things were produced or how they looked.

"It feels very damaging to my brand to just go ahead without contacting me. I would have just preferred they reached out if they liked my work."

NBC has been approached for comment.