Each major US TV network hosts a late-night talk show that has accumulated viewers and revenue over the years. However, Jimmy Kimmel holds a special place in the hearts and minds of the public, being considered one of the most entertaining and popular among them all. Unfortunately, it appears Kimmel is now facing a massive civil lawsuit after he allegedly misused Cameo videos.
Despite airing for 21 seasons and featuring numerous high-profile celebrities, some making multiple appearances, the show’s popularity has not waned. Instead, it has consistently risen over the years and its pop-cultural significance will not be stopping anytime soon.
Jimmy Kimmel Slapped With A Lawsuit Over Alleged Misuse Of Cameo Videos
According to The Hill, former Rep. George Santos has filed a civil lawsuit against Jimmy Kimmel, alleging that the late-night television host used fake names to request Cameo videos from Santos and then misused the clips on his talk show.
Santos filed the lawsuit on Saturday, citing copyright infringement, fraud, breach of contract, and unjust enrichment. He is seeking at least $750,000 in damages. The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, claims that Kimmel submitted a minimum of 14 requests for clips on Cameo, a platform where celebrities offer personalized video messages for a fee. Disney and ABC are also named as defendants in the suit.
The lawsuit alleges that Kimmel utilized “phony names and narratives,” sending requests from “fake user profiles created by Kimmel as part of the fraud.” Kimmel deliberately chose personal use licenses for all Cameo videos with the intention of violating these licenses by broadcasting and commercially exploiting the videos on national television.
Kimmel started featuring Santos’ Cameo videos on Jimmy Kimmel Live! in December, showcasing them during a segment called “Will Santos Say It?” The lawsuit also mentions Kimmel joking about the possibility of being sued by Santos in a December 11 episode, where he humorously speculated about the impact on Santos’ video rates.
“Could you imagine if I get sued by George Santos for a fraud,” Kimmel said at the time. “I mean how good would that be? It would be like a dream come true. So since I started buying his videos his rates went way up to $500 a piece. He should be thanking me for buying these videos.”
Needless to say, Jimmy Kimmel has the resources to gather the best legal team to deal with George Santos’ lawsuit. Nonetheless, it is evident Kimmel has brought it upon himself this time, so we’ll have to see how the lawsuit will turn out.
Jimmy Kimmel Threatened Legal Action Against Aaron Rodgers This Year As Well
During a recent appearance on the Pat McAfee Show, Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers made bold claims that sparked conversation. When co-host AJ Hawk playfully mentioned a connection to the impending release of Jeffrey Epstein’s associate list, Rodgers, with a sly grin, included Jimmy Kimmel’s name in the mix, stating, “There’s a lot of people, including Jimmy Kimmel, who are hoping that list doesn’t come out.”
Despite being on a holiday break from his late-night show, Jimmy Kimmel felt compelled to address the unexpected accusation from Aaron Rodgers. He took to Twitter and threatened legal action against Aaron Rodgers, cautioning Rodgers that his statements put Kimmel’s family in danger.
Dear Aasshole: for the record, I’ve not met, flown with, visited, or had any contact whatsoever with Epstein, nor will you find my name on any “list” other than the clearly-phony nonsense that soft-brained wackos like yourself can’t seem to distinguish from reality. Your reckless… https://t.co/p8eug12uiS
— Jimmy Kimmel (@jimmykimmel) January 2, 2024
“Dear A*****: for the record, I’ve not met, flown with, visited, or had any contact whatsoever with Epstein, nor will you find my name on any “list” other than the clearly-phony nonsense that soft-brained wackos like yourself can’t seem to distinguish from reality. Your reckless words put my family in danger. Keep it up and we will debate the facts further in court.”
Eventually, Aaron Rodgers would apologize for his statements and the two no longer have any sort of issues. Now, fans now hope the two don’t go after each other again in the future.
