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
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    1355 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
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      5 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!

      • Flying Squid
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        95 months ago

        Like I said, that wasn’t even the most ridiculous one. This was. And yes, he said it.

      • @voluble@lemmy.world
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        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
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    1035 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.world
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      1275 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.

      • Flying Squid
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        665 months ago

        The idea that Kimmel doesn’t have a legal team that checks for this stuff is laughable.

        • @laurelraven
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          55 months ago

          Oh, I’m sure they did, and made sure to get their payment up front

      • conciselyverbose
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        5 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.

  • @Ensign_Crab@lemmy.world
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    535 months ago

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

    Do tell.

  • the post of tom joad
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    435 months ago

    It’s not news that santos is a fool but to think he feels he has a chance here against a media conglomerate… No way his lawyers are doing this on contingency right?

      • Flying Squid
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        165 months ago

        Sure, but lawyers aren’t usually free and I can’t imagine who would be willing to take this case pro bono.

      • @wheeldawg@sh.itjust.works
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        55 months ago

        I can’t imagine what for.

        He is already a footnote. Nothing will change that. It’s better than he deserves already. What will more attention give him? It’s there literally a single person that doesn’t hate him? I’ve never heard of anyone being a fan of him.

  • @darkmarx@lemmy.world
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    335 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.

  • Gazumi
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    255 months ago

    This fuckwit will need to sue every mirror manufacturer

  • @ikidd@lemmy.world
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    245 months ago

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

  • @betterdeadthanreddit@lemmy.world
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    135 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
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      95 months ago

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

  • @JCreazy@midwest.social
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    125 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.

  • @DandomRude@lemmy.world
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    75 months ago

    I assume it won’t be too long before Santos shows up at OnlyFans. Then he’ll probably not only say whatever anyone wants for money, but also do whatever they pay him for. But please beware: he will probably sue everyone who “forced” him to provide “strange” services.