Pinky Cole is trying to limit public access to financial details tied to her business as scrutiny surrounding her company heats up.
The Saga Continues
The Slutty Vegan founder, who now appears on “The Real Housewives of Atlanta,” has asked a federal judge to seal key financial records in her Chapter 11 bankruptcy case. According to reports, she argues that widespread online attention has shifted from standard coverage to viral rumors about her financial state.
For an entrepreneur who built her brand on high visibility and publicity, this new move marks a significant shift in her operating approach.
Court filings show Cole owes approximately $1.2 million to the U.S. Small Business Administration tied to a COVID-era loan used to stabilize operations during pandemic shutdowns. She also owes roughly $192,900 to the Georgia Department of Revenue in unpaid state taxes. Combined, those obligations exceed $1.39 million in government-related debt alone — figures that do not account for vendor balances, lease obligations, and operational liabilities tied to her multiple business entities.
Her legal team says those numbers are precisely why additional financial details should be shielded from public view.
In court documents, the Clark Atlanta University alumna emphasized that the exposure of her financial information has already created measurable consequences.
She told the judge that her filings have been widely circulated online, especially by bloggers and media outlets such as TMZ, according to WSB-TV.
In her motion, Cole directly addressed the broader media environment surrounding her case.
She argued that coverage of her financial disclosures has provided “fodder for a plethora of stories in the local and national media.”
Her attorneys reinforced that claim, stating that the case has moved beyond standard reporting into viral amplification.
“In sum, (Cole’s) case has become fodder for tabloids, aspiring influencers, and the general public,” the documents said, warning that online commentary has included unlicensed legal opinions about her finances and business structure.
The request to seal records applies to detailed disclosures tied to her numerous companies— entities that must report assets, liabilities, revenue streams, and ownership structures as part of the Chapter 11 process.
According to her legal team, making those documents publicly accessible could expose competitive information and create additional financial risk at a time when the company is attempting to stabilize cash flow.
Cole’s bankruptcy filing, submitted March 2 in federal court, marked a turning point for a brand that once represented one of the fastest-growing restaurant concepts in the plant-based food sector. Slutty Vegan began as a single food truck in 2018 and expanded rapidly to 14 locations across four states. At its peak in 2022, the company reached a reported valuation of $100 million, fueled by strong consumer demand and aggressive expansion.
That growth came with significant operational costs. High corporate overhead, rising labor expenses, and lease commitments across multiple markets contributed to mounting cash-flow pressures. The company has since reduced its footprint to four operating locations while pursuing a restructuring strategy designed to transition the business toward a franchise-driven model.
Cole has publicly acknowledged the financial strain while signaling confidence in the turnaround plan. She recently described the period immediately following the bankruptcy filing as one of the most difficult phases of her career.
“For 45 days, the business was in the hands of an assignee that paid all the bills, that did everything,” she said to Forbes. “And I had to sit back and watch and be patient and just pray that the thing I worked so hard for? That I would get back again. And I’m happy that I have it again.”
A federal hearing scheduled for April 21, will determine whether the judge grants her request to seal the financial records. If approved, the decision would allow Cole to submit detailed disclosures privately while continuing negotiations with creditors and restructuring the company’s balance sheet.
