The lawsuit alleges that Kimmel misrepresented himself to induce Santos to create personalized videos capitalizing on and ridiculing Santos’ “gregarious personality.”

Former U.S. Rep. George Santos alleged in a lawsuit filed Saturday that late-night host Jimmy Kimmel deceived him into making videos on the Cameo app that were used to ridicule the disgraced New York Republican on the show.

The lawsuit filed in U.S. district court for the southern district of New York names Kimmel, ABC and Walt Disney Co. as defendants. A Disney representative listed as a media contact for the Jimmy Kimmel Live! show didn’t immediately respond to an email from The Associated Press seeking comment.

Santos, who was expelled from the House of Representatives last year after being charged with multiple counts of fraud and stealing from donors, is suing over alleged copyright infringement, fraudulent inducement, breach of contract and unjust enrichment.

  • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
    1241·
    9 months ago

    “Tricking him” by paying for him to say stuff over Cameo, something he agreed to.

    In fact, the only way he didn’t know what he was being tricked into was that he didn’t read what he said before he said it since you can say no to any request. It was fucking obvious he was being trolled. Here’s one of the things he was paid to, and did, say and it wasn’t even the most ridiculous:

    Enjoy being laughed out of court, George.

    • WindyRebel@lemmy.world
      6·
      9 months ago

      Holy fuck. Reading that, how was it not obviously a troll/joke? Are our politicians that out of touch? Seriously. Are they actually that. Badly. Out. Of. Touch?

      If so, I’ll be pouring one out for America. I know they are generally old, but come on!

      • voluble@lemmy.world
        3·
        9 months ago

        TBF he got kicked out of congress for his shenanigans, is literally a national laughing stock for his idiocy, and also needed the money badly so likely would have said anything. A lot of moving pieces with this guy.

        No need to pour one out, at least, not over this.

  • conciselyverbose@kbin.social
    98·
    9 months ago

    "Frankly, Kimmel’s fake requests were funny, but what he did was clear violation of copyright law,”

    How?

    Cameo sounds like work for hire to me. You pay, it’s yours.

    • CosmicTurtle@lemmy.worldEnglish
      121·
      9 months ago

      For each CAMEO Video (other than a Business CAMEO Video), you hereby grant to the User and the Recipient a non-exclusive, royalty-free, fully paid, worldwide, sublicensable, and perpetual license to use, reproduce, distribute, and publicly display the CAMEO Video, in each case, solely in accordance with the Site Terms, in any and all media, whether now known or hereafter invented or devised (including social media channels and third-party websites and platforms).

      I’m only a humbly country space chicken lawyer but the terms explicitly say that Kimmel can do whatever the fuck he wants with the recording.

      • conciselyverbose@kbin.social
        7·
        9 months ago

        I’m really not surprised. They wouldn’t even want to limit commercial use, because I’d assume companies paying celebrities for little blurbs for company parties and stuff like that is a meaningful chunk of their business.

        Hard to take a lawyer seriously when the language is so clear and the direct premise of the site, though. It’s not some obscure power grab in the EULA of a site focused on something different. It’s what you’re getting paid for.

  • Son_of_dad@lemmy.world
    75·
    9 months ago

    I didn’t even know about the Kimmel segment, now I’m gonna go find it and laugh at Santos. Thanks George, I wouldn’t have known about these unless you sued

  • Ensign_Crab@lemmy.worldEnglish
    48·
    9 months ago

    George Santos doesn’t like being deceived, and would have taken different actions if he knew better?

    Do tell.

  • darkmarx@lemmy.worldEnglish
    351·
    9 months ago

    Let me get this straight. You were made fun of by a guy who works for Disney. An organization that’s ridiculously protective of their brand and famous for not being fucked with. One of the most litigious organizations, with an army of lawyers who know more about entertainment law than anyone on the planet. And you’re plan is to sue these people? Good luck.

  • ikidd@lemmy.worldEnglish
    21·
    9 months ago

    Oh, George. Keep wasting that sweet Cameo money on lawyers because you’re too stupid to realize they’re fleecing you.

  • Chozo@kbin.social
    181·
    9 months ago

    At least it’s just George Santos, nothing to worry about.

    Good thing Kimmel didn’t piss off that Devolder guy, though. I hear he’s an excellent lawyer for the MIT rowing team.

  • betterdeadthanreddit@lemmy.worldEnglish
    11·
    9 months ago

    This Santos guy needs to be in a facility where his connection with reality can be reestablished. He’s clearly got some loose screws rattling around in his head.

    • girlfreddy@lemmy.ca
      7·
      9 months ago

      I think he’s broke and looking for a way to make some big bucks. Probably needs more plastic surgery or something.

  • skozzii@lemmy.ca
    11·
    9 months ago

    Well somebody here isn’t telling the truth, but the question is whom…hmmm…

  • JCreazy@midwest.socialEnglish
    10·
    9 months ago

    I was actually confused when I saw the video because I didn’t know how they could have possibly gotten George Santos to make it.