Designer Alena Kuklycheva has announced plans to pursue legal action against figure skater Alena Kostornaya and blogger Elena Rodina, associated with Match TV, amid a dispute that has drawn attention in sports and media circles across North America and Europe. The decision signals a shift from private disagreements to formal proceedings pursued in civil courts, with Kuklycheva seeking non-pecuniary damages to address the harm she perceives from the public narrative surrounding Kostornaya and Rodina.
Kuklycheva stated that the impending lawsuit focuses on the broader impact of statements and online behavior that extend beyond the moment of the holiday incident. The designer stressed that the case is about evaluating the actions from a legal standpoint and highlighted that the blogger has not only offered external support but has also taken part in activities tied to Kostornaya. This framing indicates a concern about influence, attribution, and the potential for coordinated messaging affecting professional relationships in the sport and its public sphere.
The designer noted that what she described as the last straw involved photographs in which Rodina allegedly insulted her on his private channel. This element underscores the role of private or exclusive platforms in shaping reputational harm and raises questions about accountability and the boundaries of commentary within influencer networks connected to elite athletes.
On January 3, Kuklycheva disclosed on her social media profiles that she had terminated her professional collaboration with Kostornaya. She shared a screenshot of the correspondence with the skater, suggesting financial concerns linked to costume payments. This move marks a turning point in the professional dynamic, moving from routine collaboration to public disclosure of contractual tensions and financial disputes that can affect performers’ support teams in high-profile sports careers.
Subsequently, Kuklycheva claimed that Kostornaya owed her 240 thousand rubles for sewing kits. Kostornaya’s response claimed that there was no debt, creating a public dispute over the accounting and responsibilities within the costume production process that can have implications for sponsorships, team management, and the broader operational side of elite figure skating.
Earlier comments from Kostornaya had responded to Kuklycheva’s posts about the costumes and an article referenced as the “rat” piece, indicating ongoing friction and a cycle of exchanges that feed media interest and public perception. In contexts like these, all parties face scrutiny from fans, commentators, and industry insiders who watch how disputes unfold and are reported in both Canadian and American markets, where audiences closely follow international skating results and accompanying narratives.
Observers note that this case sits at the intersection of sports management, personal reputations, and platform dynamics. The situation highlights how professional collaborations in competitive fields can become complex legal matters when financial arrangements, costume fabrication, and public commentary intersect. It also illustrates how athletes’ teams and their public-facing partners navigate disputes that can influence brand value, sponsorship opportunities, and the perceived reliability of the performers involved.