Late-night host Jimmy Kimmel is facing a lawsuit filed by former U.S. Congressman George Santos. Santos alleges that Kimmel deceived him into making videos on the Cameo app, which were later used to ridicule him on Kimmel’s show.
The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. district court for the southern district of New York, names Kimmel, ABC, and Walt Disney Co. as defendants.
George Santos, a former Republican Congressman from New York, was expelled from the House of Representatives last year after being charged with multiple counts of fraud and stealing from donors. Santos is now seeking legal action against Kimmel, claiming copyright infringement, fraudulent inducement, breach of contract, and unjust enrichment.
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Kimmel is accused of misrepresenting himself to Santos and using his “gregarious personality” to create personalized videos that would later be used to ridicule him on the show.
These videos were submitted through the Cameo app, where Santos received requests from individuals and businesses seeking personalized messages.
According to the complaint, Kimmel submitted at least 14 requests using phony names and narratives, unbeknownst to Santos.
These videos were then played on Kimmel’s show’s “Will Santos Say It?” segment. One of the clips featured Santos congratulating the winner of a beef-eating contest, calling the feat “amazing and impressive.”
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Santos’ attorney, Robert Fantone, argues that while Kimmel’s fake requests were funny, they were a clear violation of copyright law. Santos is seeking statutory damages totaling $750,000 for the five videos he created that were played on the show and various social media platforms. He also seeks further damages to be determined at trial.
The lawsuit has gained attention due to the high-profile nature of both Kimmel and Santos. It remains to be seen how this legal battle will unfold and the potential impact it may have on the late-night host’s show.
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