FORUMS//REVIEWS//NEWS//MUSIC//INTERVIEWS

Kanye, Evel Knievel Mediate Over Video Lawsuit

Thursday, July 12, 2007
By: brooklyniteOne

Kanye West has agreed to settle a lawsuit filed by motorcycle daredevil Evel Knievel over the use of his trademarked image in the 2006 video, “Touch The Sky.”

Knievel sued the 29-year-old rapper in December over the video, in which Kanye takes on the persona of “Evel Kanyevel” and attempts to jump a motorcycle over a canyon.

West wore a star-studded jumpsuit and rides a vehicle “visually indistinguishable” from the one Knievel used in a 1974 stunt at Snake River Canyon in Idaho, the lawsuit alleged.

In real life Knievel failed the stunt, and after soaring 1,000 feet he landed on a rocky bank and sustained minor scrapes and bruises.

In West’s video, the Knievel-like character crashes at the bottom of the canyon and bursts into flames.

Knievel, 68, claimed infringement on his trademarked name and likeness, and also claimed the “vulgar and offensive” images depicted in the video damage his reputation.

Meanwhile, West's attorneys argued the video was a satire, which is covered under the First Amendment.

West and Knievel have agreed to seek mediation over the lawsuit, and will share in the expenses.

(13) Comments | Post a comment »

This yet another example of the depressing strategies people use to get money. Evel knievel's reputation was not damaged by kanye's video. I wish this site didn't change the capitilization on posts to make it appear that posters cannot write correctly.

Posted by Thought2Reality

Knievel should be happy kanye did something to remind the public of who he is or what he did. How many people didn't or still don't realize that kanye was doing a satire of the 68 year old stunt man anyway? anything for a dollar i guess.

Posted by Urban

Lol

Posted by brooklynboss

Anybody over 21 has to know who evil knievel is . That lawsuit is ridiculous though . Ppl on saturday night live dress up and make fun of famous ppl all the time . Why dont they get sued?

Posted by college-graduate

You already know why they dont get sued!!!!look at whos watchin snl and whos watching bet.sorry but its the truth.

Posted by followthaleed

"followthaleed" if your trying to bring race into this you are retarded. There have been so many talented black actors on snl througout the years and just as many black people watch snl. Its not the truth. If you want the truth here it is... Bet is run by viacom, who is run by white people. They portray blacks as drugdealers and hustlers so that the young kids see that and think that if they want to be "real" they have to go out and do those things. Its all to set the black race back.

Posted by Ransom

Good point ransom

Posted by CHRIS

Wait till i get my money right! then you cant tell me nothing right??

Posted by so ugly

Ok, kanye west is facing criticism for taking something old, altering it not all that heavily and reselling it...why is anyone surprised? apparently, this is the one sample he didn't clear; live and learn, mr west.

Posted by BazookaGio

Hell yeah, sue the bastard! maybe the loser will learn the rules of business. You cant take what someone else created and make $$ from it and not expect to pay for the service.

Posted by Strike Ice

Evel knievel was around before my time, but i know of him through legend, and had respect for him. Needless to say, that is no longer the case as this lawsuit is a blowpop move. If he honestly thinks that kanye "tarnished his image", then his sense of fearlessness has evolved into pure senility with his old age.

Posted by YayBomb

I got a problem with ever went back and something about the video to him in the first place. If a white dude did it, it would have been some ol "thats a good look"

Posted by FatBoyDeluxe

Were good on the fag n*gga!!we dont talk about fag n*ggas on here

Posted by grams of cocaine