Cardi B’s application to trademark her signature phrase “okurrr” was refused by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, the CNN is reporting.
The rapper’s attorney filed applications to trademark the term in March to use it on paper goods, like cups and posters, and clothing, like T-shirts and undergarments.
Registration for the trademark was refused because it is a “commonplace term, message, or expression widely used by a variety of sources that merely conveys an ordinary, familiar, well-recognized concept or sentiment,” the office writes on the application.
It noted that the expression is “commonly used in the drag community and by celebrities as an alternate way of saying ‘OK’ or ‘something that is said to affirm when someone is being put in their place.”
Last year, Cardi B explained the catchphrase to Jimmy Fallon when she co-hosted “The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon.”
“You know, it’s like a cold pigeon in New York City,” she said at the time, explaining there are different variations of the phrase depending on the situation. It’s like okay, but “okay is played out,” she enthused.
The trademark application was filed in March by attorney Doreen Small on behalf of Cardi B’s company, Washpoppin, Inc.
