Mandel Ngan/AFP; Randy Holmes/ABC via Getty Images
Former Congressman George Santos has filed a lawsuit against late-night host Jimmy Kimmel, accusing him of “fraud” over the use and acquisition of Santos' Cameo videos. The lawsuit, filed Saturday in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, alleges fraud, breach of contract, unjust enrichment and copyright infringement. ABC and Disney were also named as defendants.
According to the complaint, Kimmel used “false names and narratives” to make video requests for Santos’ Cameos, which were sent from “fake user profiles” created by the host as part of a “scam” for the “sole purpose of profiting from and ridiculing.” [Santos’] “socialite,” which Kimmel allegedly abused on his show. The late-night host “misrepresented himself as multiple users when placing orders,” according to the lawsuit, and claims the moves violate Cameos' terms of service along with infringing Santos' copyright, as New York Post Reported for the first time. Santos is seeking compensation of at least $750,000.
“Kimmel selected personal use licenses for all Cameo videos with the intent to violate those licenses by broadcasting and commercially exploiting the Cameo videos on national television,” the complaint reads.
Representatives for ABC, Disney and Kimmel did not immediately respond Rolling StoneRequests for comment.
According to the lawsuit, Kimmel joked about filing a lawsuit against Santos in the wake of the alleged “fraud” during the December 11 episode of his show. Jimmy Kimmel Live.
“Can you imagine if George Santos sued me for 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 prices have gone up to $500 apiece. He should thank me for buying these videos.”
In December, Santos was expelled from the House of Representatives following an Ethics Committee investigation, and was indicted and arrested on charges of wire fraud, money laundering, and lying to Congress. Shortly thereafter, he launched his reportedly lucrative Cameo video making career.
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