Lavish party favors have become a customary perk for nominees at major award shows, but this year the Oscars swag bag is really out of control. This assortment of goodies for 2016 is worth upwards of $232,000—a 40 percent increase from last year's $160,000 bag.
Included among the extravagant gifts is a Vampire breast lift (valued at $1,900), a 10-day VIP trip to Israel ($55,000), a 15-day private walking tour of Japan ($54,000), laser treatments at 740 Park MD ($5,530), a Haze vaporizer ($250), a Nuelle Fiera vibrator ($250), plus many more expensive and bizarre items.
Sounds like a pretty nice haul for Oscar nominees to take home after the big night, especially as a consolation prize for those who don't snag a statue. (Don't worry, Leo, if all else fails at least you'll have your vape pen.)
There's just one little problem—none of this is authorized by the Academy.
Distinctive Assets, the Los Angeles-based marketing firm that puts the bags together, operates independently and has no affiliation with the Academy or the awards ceremony (they stopped officially giving out gifts in 2006 due to scrutiny from the IRS over the high value of the goods). Even still, Distinctive Assets is promoting this year's bag as "The 14th Annual 'Everyone Wins' Nominee Gift Bags in honor of the Academy Awards®."
Needless to say, the Academy is none too happy it. They've filed a lawsuit against the company, seeking an injunction and damages for trademark infringement and misleading the public about its relationship with the Oscars.
"Distinctive Assets' continued use of the Academy's trademarks not only infringes the Academy's trademarks, but it is also likely to dilute the distinctiveness of the Academy's famous trademarks and tarnish their goodwill," the filing read.
Also noted in the complaint was "the less-than-wholesome nature of some of the products contained in the bags." Apparently, the Academy members aren't big fans of vaporizers, sex toys and plastic surgery. Plus, with the #OscarsSoWhite controversy already dominating media coverage of the awards, it seems they're desperate to avoid any further tarnishing of their image. But, uh, this is Hollywood we're talking about, right?
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Here's the full list of items in the *unofficial* 2016 Oscars swag bag:
- Haze Dual Vaporizer ($250)
- Personalized M&Ms ($300)
- A 10,000-meal donation made in the nominee's name to an animal shelter or rescue of their choice ($6,300)
- A lifetime supply of Pu-erh Tea Nourishing Cream and Pu-erh Tea Cleansing Bar ($31,200)
- A year's worth of Audi car rentals from Silvercar ($45,000)
- 10-day all-expenses-paid trip to Israel ($55,000)
- Tribute video services ($125)
- Caolion Ultimate Pore Care gift set ($134)
- Healing Saint Luminosity skin serum and hair follicle stimulant ($193)
- Private 15-day walking tour of Japan ($54,000)
- 10 personal training sessions with Alexis Seletzky ($900)
- Belldini gift certificate ($300)
- Chapstick ($6)
- Chocolatines Drunken Fig Cake Bites ($35)
- Dandi Patch anti-perspirant solution ($21)
- Delovery gift basket ($2,000)
- Druzy earrings ($25)
- Fit Club TV "Ultimate Fitness Package" ($6,250)
- Gleener on the Go ($12)
- 3-day stay at the Golden Door Resort & Spa in San Marcos, CA ($4,800)
- 3-night stay at the Grand Hotel Excelsior Vittoria in Sorrento, Italy ($5,000)
- 3-night stay at the Grand Hotel Tremezzo in Lake Como, Italy ($5,000)
- Greenhill Blanc de Blancs wine ($39)
- Hydroxycut Gummies ($20)
- 3 fitness training sessions with Jay Cardiello ($1,400)
- Joseph's Toiletries toilet paper ($275)
- Sterling silver necklace ($150)
- Memobottles ($47)
- El Silencio Mezcal ($75)
- Mission1 protein bar ($6)
- Nuelle Fiera arouser for her ($250)
- Phantom Glass screen protector ($50-60)
- Purely Inspired Organic Protein ($20)
- Rouge Maple culinary products ($99)
- Sedone Lace makeup brush set ($110)
- Signature Vodka ($70)
- Slimware plates ($30)
- Steamist spa system ($5,060)
- Sundial powder coating ($500)
- Blow dryers and flat irons ($250)
- Vampire Breast Lift ($1,900)
- Wallet ($125)
- 740 Park plastic surgery ($5,530)
Sarah Lindig is the senior digital editor, overseeing special projects for Harper's Bazaar.
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