Fashion designer Antthony Mark Hankins (Haskins) filed a $30 million lawsuit against QVC Group and HSN following the termination of his 31-year partnership. The lawsuit was officially filed on February 11, 2026, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania (Case No. 2:26-cv-00912).
Despite QVC Group subsequently filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in April 2026, a federal bankruptcy judge issued a formal order allowing Hankins’ $30 million litigation to bypass standard restructuring protections and proceed uninterrupted.
Expanded Details on Core Allegations
The detailed federal complaint filed by Hankins and his brand, Antthony Design Originals, outlines several distinct legal grievances:
- Revenue Suppression: Hankins alleges HSN intentionally suppressed his brand’s revenue. They denied him required on-air time, withheld marketing support, and slashed his sales by 75% compared to projections.
- Breach of Purchase Thresholds: The lawsuit claims HSN breached contract terms by failing to meet a mandatory minimum purchase order threshold of $2 million over any given six-month period.
- Racial Discrimination: Hankins alleges the networks restricted his on-air presence primarily to Black History Month. The complaint also states that corporate management used “coded language” when referencing Black consumers.
- Unauthorized Likeness & Inventory Liquidation: Following his sudden termination in July 2025, the networks allegedly continued using Hankins’ image and likeness without authorization through January 2026. They also pulled his airtime with zero warning and liquidated his remaining inventory at steep discounts.
- The TikTok Shift: The suit claims HSN diverted operational resources away from legacy creators like Hankins to fund a younger, TikTok-centered business model.
- Additional Counts: The lawsuit explicitly demands a jury trial covering counts of defamation, tortious interference, and retaliatory conduct.
Direct Impact of QVC Bankruptcy Reorganization
QVC Group filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on April 16, 2026, which initially paused all active litigation against the home shopping titan. However, the case saw a major development in July 2026:
- The Carve-Out Ruling: U.S. Bankruptcy Court Judge Alfredo R. Perez signed a confirmation order explicitly carving out Hankins’ lawsuit as one of the few legal claims permitted to bypass bankruptcy protections.
- Corporate Restructuring: QVC Group is poised to emerge from Chapter 11 bankruptcy. They will slash corporate debt from $6.6 billion down to $1.3 billion.
- New Ownership: Control of QVC Group is shifting to its top distressed-debt creditors. These include investment firms Silver Point Capital and Strategic Value Partners. Hankins’ legal team will pursue the $30 million claim against this newly reorganized entity.