Indianapolis, IN

Hot girl feud: Trademark disputes forces Indianapolis walking group to change name

Published

2 years ago

July 18, 2024

Press Room

Hot girl feud: Trademark disputes forces Indianapolis walking group to change name

Can the concept of a walk with your friends be trademarked?

That question is at the center of a legal dispute involving an Indianapolis woman.

The organizer of a popular Indianapolis walking club, Casey Springer, has been sued by TikTok influencer, Mia Lind, for allegedly using her trademarked brand without permission, business disparagement and defamation. Lind began promoting the idea of a women-only mental health walk during the pandemic and branded it as “Hot Girl Walk.”

Springer said she was inspired by the California-based Lind to create Hot Girl Walk Indianapolis but did not want to partner with the company because of differing values. For one, she did not like Hot Girl Walk’s partnership with Weight Watchers, which she said could hurt some of the Indianapolis participants who suffered from eating disorders. From there, the conflict grew. Springer accused Lind of trying to shut down a local walking club that was free to the community. Lind accused Springer of disparaging and harassing her and her company and encouraging her followers do the same, according to the lawsuit.

“When I created Hot Girl Walk, I never expected something like this to happen,” Lind said in a statement. “Ms. Springer’s words and actions are very scary, and this was my only choice to protect me, my family, and my company.”

Springer said her negative comments were made in a private chat with her friends, which someone later leaked to Lind and she said she never intended for her words to go beyond a small group.

“I was venting with my galpals,” Springer said. “That’s all it was.”

The story has all the trappings of a modern day digital feud — a viral TikTok post that birthed a company, accusations of trolling and doxing and a fight over a bubbly pink brand. But the heart of the conflict, what is trademarked and what is fair use, is nothing new.

The story really begins with ‘Hot Girl Summer,’ a 2019 banger by Megan Thee Stallion that carved out a permanent spot in Millennial and Gen Z vernacular. The idea of the hot girl — who exudes confidence and spunk no matter the struggles in life — took off.

Then Lind, a University of Southern California student or @exactlyliketheothergirls, shared a “hot” weight loss tip on TikTok in 2021.

“If you want to know how I went from *this* to *this,” she says in the video as before and after weight loss photos flashed. “Listen up. This is for you.”

Hot Girl Walk

That was the start of Hot Girl Walk, a four-mile walk during which participants are encouraged to think about their achievements, goals and feel confident. As many as tens of thousands women have joined Lind on her walks.

Lind later trademarked the term and launched a business that organizes walks from Los Angeles to New York to Miami. It’s Barbie meets athleisure, backed by big brands like Reebok, Lululemon and Weight Watchers.

Lind’s company now also sells merchandise, from hats to hoodies.

“Being hot isn’t about what you look like but it’s everything to do with what comes from the inside out,” Lind said in a recent TV interview.

We Walk Indy

Last year, Springer, a Broad Ripple resident, launched a local walking club for “the Girls, Gays + Theys,” according to its website. The weekly walks are free, and organizers partner with local groups like Indianapolis Cultural Trail Inc. Springer said she doesn’t make money off the group.

Lind alleges that Springer first used the name Hot Girl Walk Indy before changing the group’s name to Hot Walk Indy last year, both of which she claims violates copyright laws, according to a lawsuit filed Monday in United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana.

The lawsuit also lays out allegations of online bullying by Springer and her supporters, including calling the merchandise “butt ugly” and “reporting false walks in the Bermuda triangle, Pangea, Antarctica, prisons, and/or islands where the inhabitants attack HOT GIRL WALK participants that come on the island,” according to the lawsuit.

Supporters of the local group accused Lind of being overly zealous in targeting a free community group.

On Tuesday, the local group changed its name on Instagram to We Walk Indy.

“At the end of the day, I’m just here to create an inclusive walking club for my community. I love my community and everything we stand for and have built together for the last year,” the Instagram account says. “No one can take that from us. No one.”

Binghui Huang can be reached at 317-385-1595 or Bhuang@gannett.com

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Indianapolis, IN

Pirates farm report for April 18, 2026: Rafael Flores Jr. hits 1st homer in Indianapolis win

Published

9 hours ago

April 19, 2026

Press Room

Pirates farm report for April 18, 2026: Rafael Flores Jr. hits 1st homer in Indianapolis win

INDIANAPOLIS (Triple A, 6-14) thumped Omaha (Royals), 11-3. 1B Rafael Flores Jr. (.206) went 2 for 3 with a double, his first home run, two runs scored and three RBIs. LF Tyler Callihan (.239) went 3 for 4 with a double and his first homer, a two-run shot. DH Enmanuel Valdez (.273) went 2 for 4 with his first homer and three runs scored. RF Esmerlyn Valdez (.258) went 2 for 5 with two doubles and a run scored. SS Davis Wendzel (.269) went 1 for 3 with a double, two walks, two runs scored and two RBIs. RHP Carson Fulmer (2-0, 5.51) started, gave up three runs on three hits in five innings and earned the win. RHP Chris Devenski (1.50) and LHP Joe La Sorsa (3.24) each pitched two scoreless innings.

Next: Sunday at Omaha (Royals), 3:05 p.m.

ALTOONA (Double-A, 2-12) had two hits – both solo home runs – and beat Portland (Red Sox), 2-0. LHP Dominic Perachi (1-0, 1.80) started and went six innings, allowing three hits and two walks with three strikeouts. RHP Landon Tomkins (3.38) followed with two scoreless. RHP Jaycob Deese (3.00) worked the ninth for his first save. LF Titus Dumitru (.146) went 1 for 3 with his second homer. C Shawn Ross (.182) went 1 for 3 with his second homer.

Next: Sunday vs. Portland (Red Sox), 1 p.m.

GREENSBORO (High-A, 10-4) lost 8-3 to Brooklyn (Mets). C Easton Carmichael (.273) went 2 for 4 with an RBI. RF Shalin Polanco (.250) went 1 for 3 with a stolen base and an RBI. 1B Jared Jones (.277) went 2 for 5 with a run scored. RHP Carlson Reed (0-1, 7.36) started, recorded one out and gave up four runs on two hits and four walks. RHP Jose Garces (3.60) pitched two scoreless innings.

Next: Sunday at Brooklyn (Mets), 2 p.m.

BRADENTON (Low-A, 5-9) allowed seven stolen bases in its 6-5 loss to Tampa (Yankees). CF Edward Florentino, starting a rehab assignment as he recovers from an ankle injury, went 1 for 3 with a walk, double and run scored. LHP Reinold Navarro (6.43) started and gave up three hits, four walks and two earned runs over three innings while striking out five. SS/1B Eddie Rynders (.128) went 2 for 4 with a double and an RBI. DH Edgleen Perez (.238) went 1 for 4 and drove in two runs. LF/CF Josh Tate (.208) went 2 for 5 with an RBI. 2B/SS Antonio Pimentel (.154) went 2 for 4 with a double. RHP Greiber Mendez (5.40) and RHP Noah Murdock (0-1, 9.00), who took the loss, each gave up two hits and one run in one inning. RHP Treyson Peters pitched the final three innings, allowing five hits, one earned run and one walk while striking out two.

Next: Sunday at Tampa (Yankees), noon

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Indianapolis, IN

The Zone Extra | April 18, 2026

Published

21 hours ago

April 18, 2026

Press Room

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — It was another busy week in high school sports in central Indiana and ‘The Zone Extra’ has it all covered.

Athlete of the week and Guerin Catholic senior outfielder Ian Taylor is off to a scorching hot start to the young season. Check out his interview as well as Guerin Catholic head coach Dave Schrage talk about Taylor’s success.

The Johnson County baseball tournament came to a close. See highlights from Center Grove’s tournament victory.

The 4A baseball coaches poll was released as well as the 3A softball coaches poll.

The former Columbus North gymnastics coach, John Hinds, passed away at 88 years old.

Center Grove head softball coach Alyssa Coleman joins the show for a coaches corner conversation.

See highlights from the Colts Local Pro Day, featuring several former Hoosiers and Purdue’s Devin Mockobee.

Girls lacrosse is in the first season as an IHSAA emerging sport.

All of that, and more, can be found in the full The Zone Extra show above.

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Indianapolis, IN

Tornado watches issued for counties north and west of Indianapolis

Published

1 day ago

April 18, 2026

Press Room

Tornado watches issued for counties north and west of Indianapolis

(WISH) — A tornado watch was issued until 3 a.m. EDT Saturday for counties northwest and west of Indianapolis, and into Illinois.

Indiana counties in the watch area are Boone, Carroll, Cass, Clay, Clinton, Elkhart, Fountain, Fulton, Howard, Kosciusko, La Porte, Marshall, Miami, Montgomery, Parke, Pulaski, Putnam, St. Joseph, Starke, Tippecanoe, Vermillion, Vigo, Wabash, Warren and White. The watch area includes the cities of Crawfordsville, Elkhart, Lafayette, Lebanon, South Bend, Terre Haute, and West Lafayette.

The National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center has issued two watches in Indiana. The other one until midnight EDT Friday includes the Indiana counties of Benton, Jasper, Lake, Newton and Porter. That includes the city of Gary. That watch also extends into Illinois.

Storms on Friday night in central Illinois, Iowa, Missouri and Minnesota led to dozens of confirmed tornado warnings. The storms in central Illinois has gusts up to 80 mph, and tornadoes embedded in heavy rain.

An alert issued after 10:30 p.m. Friday from the National Weather Service at Indianapolis said, “A line of strong thunderstorms is nearing the state line with a history of widespread damaging winds and tornadoes. The line is expected to continue to produce damaging winds as it moves into Indiana with the potential for additional tornadoes. The line is then expected to gradually weaken as it moves further into the state.”

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