Former New York Republican Representative George Santos has launched a legal battle against Jimmy Kimmel, alleging the comedian used deceptive tactics to acquire Cameo videos from him, subsequently misusing them on his television show.
Claims and Damages
In the lawsuit, Santos seeks compensation exceeding $750,000, citing violations including copyright infringement and fraud.
Requests for Clips
In a lawsuit lodged in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, Santos alleged that Kimmel made at least 14 requests for clips on the platform Cameo, where celebrities offer brief personalized video messages for sale.
Phony Names &Narratives
The lawsuit alleges that Kimmel provided “phony names and narratives” and sent “fake requests … from fake user profiles created by Kimmel as part of the fraud.”
Removal From the House
Just over a year after his election win, Santos was removed from the House of Representatives in December due to fraud charges and other allegations.
Campaign Funds Misuse
A report from the House Ethics Committee detailed his alleged misuse of campaign funds for purchases, including OnlyFans subscriptions, Botox treatments, and Hermes products.
Celeb Video Platform
Santos quickly started promoting himself on the Cameo app, a platform where celebrities offer personalized videos. Unaware, he recorded at least 14 clips for requests from Kimmel under pseudonyms, each valued at $500, as per the complaint.
License Violation
Santos contends that Kimmel intentionally misused the videos obtained via Cameo, breaching the agreed personal use licenses by showcasing them on TV.
“Will Santos Say It?”
The lawsuit alleges that Kimmel started using the videos on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” in December, featuring them in a segment titled “Will Santos Say It?”
Mocking Santos
Kimmel humorously featured the Cameo videos in the segment, mocking Santos’s engagement on the platform and speculating about getting sued by Santos.
“Amazing and Impressive”
In one of the videos, Santos congratulates the alleged victor of a beef-eating competition, hailing the accomplishment of devouring 6 pounds (2.7 kilograms) of ground beef in less than 30 minutes as “amazing and impressive.”
Copyright Law Violation
An attorney representing Santos told the Guardian, “Frankly, Kimmel’s fake requests were funny, but what he did was clear violation of copyright law.”
A Dream Come True
According to the lawsuit, the host said, “Could you imagine if I get sued by George Santos for a fraud? I mean how good would that be? It would be like a dream come true.”
Thank Me
It added, “So since I [Kimmel] started buying his videos his rates went way up to $500 a piece. He [Santos] should be thanking me for buying these videos.”
Fraudulent Behavior
The lawsuit further alleges that Kimmel engaged in fraudulent behavior by employing fake aliases to request videos “solely to exploit and mock [Santos’] outgoing personality” — and he even boasted about this deception on his show.
Cease-and-Desist
Following the airing of several of the videos on the show, Santos’s attorney, Andrew Mancilla, issued a cease and desist letter to Kimmel on December 12, demanding the removal of the videos from YouTube and TikTok accounts linked to the show.
Late Christmas Gift
Santos told the New York Post, “Jimmy, sorry that my Christmas gift to you came late, but here’s to making wishes come true. I hope you enjoy reading your lawsuit for fraud that you’ve been looking forward to.”
Read Next: What Really Causes Donald Trump’s Skin to be So Orange
Former President Donald Trump’s distinctive orange skin has captivated attention, sparking curiosity about its evolution from average pale over the years:
What Really Causes Donald Trump’s Skin to be So Orange
21 of the Biggest Lies in American History
Dive into the shadows of American history as we explore 21 of its biggest lies that have left an indelible mark on the nation’s narrative:
21 of the Biggest Lies in American History
32 Things We Once Highly Respected but Are a Complete Joke Now
Discover the amusing downfall of once-respected entities in our changing world:
32 Things We Once Highly Respected but Are a Complete Joke Now
23 of Donald Trump’s Most Hilarious Moments as President
Explore the lighter side of Donald Trump’s presidency with 23 hilariously memorable moments that left the nation in stitches:
23 of Donald Trump’s Most Hilarious Moments as President
27 Things MAGA Movement Ruined Forever for People
How the MAGA movement left its mark on individuals and disrupted certain aspects of our everyday life forever:
