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Viljoens Flee SA After $71m Tammy Taylor Judgment: “She Might As Well Have Sued the Moon”
“She Might As Well Have Sued the Moon,” says Peet Viljoen as franchise fallout, threats and legal drama push power couple to emigrate
The saga surrounding the Tammy Taylor nail empire in South Africa has taken a dramatic new turn and it now stretches all the way to the United States. Melany and Peet Viljoen, once the high-profile faces of the Tammy Taylor franchise in South Africa, have officially left the country. Their decision comes in the wake of a $4 million (R71 million) US court judgment against their now-sold company for trademark infringement and breach of contract.
But the couple says it wasn’t the judgment alone that drove them out, it was fear, political pressure, and a justice system they no longer trust.
The Judgment: “She might as well have sued the moon”
In a lengthy video posted to Melany Viljoen’s Facebook page, the couple addressed the ruling handed down by a US court, which found in favour of the American Tammy Taylor brand. While the company initially demanded $100 million, the court awarded $4 million in statutory damages.
Peet Viljoen, ever defiant, downplayed the outcome:
“She might as well have sued the moon,” he said, claiming the judgment was issued by default and applies to a company he no longer owns.
“I sold that company two years before the judgment,” he added.
He also noted that he had previously filed for an interdict in South Africa but received no response from Tammy Taylor US.
Threats, politics, and fear for their lives
While the legal wrangle made headlines, the Viljoens claim their real breaking point came from increasingly dangerous threats on home soil.
“People came into my office with guns,” Peet said. “They threatened to kill us if we didn’t sign the company over to Julius Malema.”
No formal police reports were mentioned, and Malema has not responded publicly to the claim, but the allegation adds to the cloud of controversy that now surrounds the couple.
Melany described the environment as increasingly hostile and racially charged. In a highly inflammatory portion of the video, she accused a black judge of issuing contradictory orders in two different cases on the same day, including one involving a woman named Lebohang “Bekots Myself.”
“These things are not trained to rule,” she said of black judges, adding, “They only give blacks with black lawyers the judgments they want.”
The racial tone of the comments has sparked outrage online, with users calling out what many saw as blatant bigotry.
“If this is how they talk about our legal system, no wonder they left,” one user commented on X.
Another said: “They weren’t pushed out—they just couldn’t play by the rules.”
A growing exodus, or isolated drama?
South Africa’s brain drain is no secret, and the Viljoens have now joined a growing list of professionals and entrepreneurs who’ve headed abroad, citing political uncertainty, crime, and economic decline.
Peet pointed to the Expropriation Act as a major red flag for white property owners.
“I realised I was living in fear. I wasn’t happy anymore.”
He claimed that former US president Donald Trump’s remark that Afrikaners are “special” and welcome in the US helped solidify their decision to leave.
Now, the couple has reportedly sold off their South African assets quietly and relocated. Peet plans to write the US legal entrance exam and re-establish himself in the legal field.
“I have to explain to nobody whether I am rich or poor,” he said.
From glitz to legal grit: The Tammy Taylor SA rise and fall
Once seen as aspirational lifestyle entrepreneurs, the Viljoens launched the South African Tammy Taylor franchise with fanfare, glitz, and celebrity endorsements. The brand became synonymous with high-end nail salons and influencer culture.
But legal battles with the original US-based Tammy Taylor brand began to surface in recent years, culminating in the recent judgment.
Industry insiders say the fallout was predictable.
“There were always questions about the franchise structure and branding rights,” said one former business associate.
“The house of cards was bound to tumble.”
No apology, no retreat
Despite the judgment and mounting criticism, the Viljoens show no sign of contrition. Instead, their narrative is one of victimhood, betrayal, and defiance.
Whether their legal woes follow them to the US remains to be seen, but for now, the couple insists their story is far from over.
“This country [SA] didn’t deserve us,” Melany said toward the end of the video.
Judging by the social media backlash, not everyone agrees.
{Source: IOL}
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