Italian street artist AleXsandro Palombo, the creator of the mural depicting Marge Simpson cutting her hair in solidarity with Iranian women which leapt from the walls of Milan and has been seen the world over thanks to its virality, has instructed his lawyer to take legal action against American pop superstar Cardi B.

A few weeks ago, Cardi B posted a photo shoot to her instagram, realised with the help of her closest collaborators. The photoset is a recreation of one of the works in Palombo's ‘Marge Simpson Style Icon’ series.

The photo of the pop star dressed up as Mrs Simpson, as well as a screen shot of Palombo's original artwork, were shared by Cardi B to her Instagram page, which boasts 145 million followers, without ever mentioning or crediting – explains a note from Palombo – the artist.

Further, no one from the pop star’s team contacted Palombo before his work was appropriated.

The artist has now instructed Claudio Volpi, a copyright expert from the law firm Barberi & Volpi, to proceed against the American pop star, so that she is notified of the unauthorised use of the work.

"Cardi B has unlawfully appropriated the work of AleXsandro Palombo for mere business purposes, in defiance of the most elementary rules of copyright and Instagram's policy, with consequent serious risks, both in terms of compensation and discredit for her public image,” says the lawyer.

The work belongs to a series that the Italian artist created in 2013, with the intention of transforming Marge, a mother and doting housewife, into a style icon: a work reflecting on female emancipation and gender equality.

AleXsandro Palombo's work and Cardi B's recreation side by side. (Photo: ANSA)

"Cardi B and her collaborators have used my artwork without any authorisation, debasing its original meaning ― and only to amplify their own image with a clear commercial purpose that has nothing to do with the path of social awareness that has always characterised my works,” says Palombo.

“Dear Cardi B, by your reasoning, should everyone illegally download your music?"