Evel Knievel has sued Kanye West, taking issue with a music video in which the rapper takes on the persona of “Evel Kanyevel” and tries to jump a rocket-powered motorcycle over a canyon.
Knievel, whose real name is Robert Craig Knievel, filed a lawsuit in federal court in Tampa on Monday claiming infringement on his trademark name and likeness. He also claims the “vulgar and offensive” images depicted in the video damage his reputation.
“That video that Kanye West put out is the most worthless piece of crap I’ve ever seen in my life, and he uses my image to catapult himself on the public,” the 68-year-old daredevil said Tuesday.
A spokesman for West said the 28-year-old rapper no comment.
Damn! He straight clownd Kanye. I guess that’s Karma coming back around for his antics at the European Music Awards.
Damn rappers stay getting sued. If’d they’d be more original like Lupe Fiasco for instance they couls avoid the lawsuits.
I can’t stand Kanye anyways old ass crybaby.
This is the most ridiculous lawsuit I’ve ever seen.
Evel Knievel is a Famous Person.
Famous People are imitated everyday.
Saturday Night Live & Madd TV would be getting sued everyday, If one could do a parody of a Famous Person
As long as Kanye didn’t use Evel name (he didn’t), he can’t be sued.
Case Closed
Damn people will sue you if you sneeze on them. It’s not that serious no wonder all the real issues in the world are being put on the back burner.
I agree with Bill!!
kanye probably told eval to sue him just so he could keep his name out there. wouldn’t put it past him. he’s an attention hog ya know!
Well, that’s what Kanye gets for “showing out” at all the Awards shows! God don’t like ugly! Now, he’s gotta pay UP! Hopefully now, he will SHUT the hell UP as well! LOL!
When Evel Kanyevel saw that video, he saw a meal ticket.
Uh oh! I feel another Kanye temper tantrum coming on! The same video he threw a stink about he’s getting sued over…karma is a bia bia!
Do you not have to have any type of permission to use his “character” likeness or whatever? Isn’t the same as them having to have permission when they sample someone else’s music or remake a movie.
What took him so long to sue? Makes you wonder…and shouldn’t he be happy anybody’s even thinking bout him after all these years…boy please lol
Stupid…
Bill is right. Everyone would sue for all the parodies completed if that was the case. It’s obvious he’s looking for a little attention. Bet if it was a country star doing the same video, there would be no lawsuit. People are so funny these days.
Actually he did use the name in a snippet of the video. But changed it to “Evel Kanyevel.”
Obviously Evel has a stick up his ass about something. I guess he really hated that video.
“He also claims the “vulgar and offensive” images depicted in the video damage his reputation.”
First, I would like to know what reputation does he have. Please!! Maybe a reputation for being an idiot for doing the stunts he did in his career.
Second, what is so vulgar and offensive about the video. Maybe I shouldn’t pull the race card out, but something tells me if Kanye West wouldn’t have been a black rapper who pubicly bashed President Dumb Bush and kisses a well known white actress in the video, Evil Knievel would not have cared.
Third, I can’t believe I’m defending Kanye West because he’s such an arrogant little media whore.
And like Bill said, I highly doubt Saturday Night Live and MadTV get permission from the celebrities they make in order to parody their likeness! If that were the case, then they’d be outta business and broke because there are not many celebrities that like to be mocked, although in some cases, mocking proves you’ve reached the top lol
Evel just wants some doe, so this is just another way he can try and get it.
I don’t believe Evel Knievel really gives a f&%k about the video!!!!
why is he filing a lawsuit now then, the video’s been out 4 a minute
Kanye was referred to as “Evel Kanyevel” several times in that video. As long as he got permission to do so, he shouldn’t have any problems.
My queston is why did Robert wait so long to file the suit? Hmmmmmmm
I agree with Bill…Evel Knievel get over yourself its not that serious.
I don’t even like Kayne or that video but damn Evel is just being an ass!
that video was a hot mess anyway. who cares.
This is BULL$#!T! There should be a law against old white folks suing young black people!
I guess Michael Jordan should sue Kobe Bryant for using his image to catapult himself in the NBA! And, Aretha should sue Fantasia! Hell, Ike and Tina should definitely sue Bobby and Whitney for catapulting their image!
The people who uphold EVEL KNIEVEL’s image will never tune in to VH1 or MTV to watch Kanye’s mess!
Kanye will make a fool out of old Evel in court!
old & senile
…he uses my image to catapult himself on the public,” the 68-year-old daredevil said Tuesday.
No Evel actually Kayne is amongst the A-Listers and he was ALREADY in the public eye before that video…actually he brought your image back into the spotlight.
Damn Evel is a dumb-ass…I hate to pull the race card here but if it was Justin Timberlake or Nick Lachey that used his “image” would he really care?
That is sooo damn petty, but that’s Kanye gets for being so damn dramatic and shit… talking ’bout the best video of the year… cause it cost a million dollars and shit… HA! I hope it was worth it Kanye Zest!
Oh, and that’s like when Rosa Parks sued Outcast for using her name, I’m sorry, but don’t people have anything better to do?
THE OLD MIGHT DOLLAR MAKES ME WANT TO SUE SOMEBODY,
EVIL EVEL EVIL needs some money he is old and doesn’t have any health insurance to pay for his medical bills. Those damn medical bills are piling up, and I know just who will pay them Mr. Kanye West.
JUDGE: “MR. WEST DID YOU JUMP OVER A CANYON
KANYE: “YES YOUR HONOR”
JUDGE: ” MR. WEST DID YOU KISS A WHITE WOMAN”
KANYE: “YES YOUR HONOR
JUDGE: ” I FIND YOU Guilty as charged Mr. West pay the DAMN man…….
Toooooooooo Damn funny. Just another dumb law suit
Two daredevils! A house divided!
AND?
His old dried up ass needs to sit down. Kanye was already the shit way beyond this video. Oh he made you look stupid Evil? Well jumping over a canyon in a model rocket isn’t the smartest thing you could do. Go drink your Metimucil and hush.
Overseas Messenger said:
JUDGE: ” MR. WEST DID YOU KISS A WHITE WOMAN”
KANYE: “YES YOUR HONOR
JUDGE: ” I FIND YOU Guilty as charged Mr. West pay the DAMN man…….
YESSS, that’s exactly what I was thinking… is that the “vulgar and offensive” images depicted in the video that he’s referring to? Must be. SMH
@15,,,,Yup….Evil aint work in years so he trying 2 get paid. I hope Kanye does not have 2 pay. Hollywood does this type a thing all the time.
Evil might have been made cause a white girl (Pam Anderson) was all up on Kanye in the video.
kind.
Didn’t even realize Evel Knievel was still around..
I agree with Bill this lawsuit if stupid.
Now Karma is wow. I do notice that when celebrities get bigger than their britches something comes out the woodworks and kicks them down in their behind. I hope that Kanye got a good lawyer and Evil must be broke and saw this as a way to get some fast cash. Probably had all of his family and friends who probably lived off of his fame rooting him to file a lawsuit a year later. There are so many rappers being sued by washed up entertainers. Please rappers get your facts right and avoid the lawsuits.
I agree that Kanye is an ass but this lawsuit sounds like some straight bullshit.
Just another wake up call to rappers everywhere…quit taking shyt from movies and other peoples lives and tryin to imitate it…they’ll sue you and look what trouble trying to be like the mafia got lil wayne and baby…all over the internet slobbing each other down….GET ORIGINAL! DAMN!
Kanye WASTE!!!
Damage his reputation?With his old ass, come on.But everybody gets sued and its not like these rappers don’t have the money.If they like jacking than thats them.But Hip HOp is so big these days everybody wants a piece of the pie.
23@Overseas Messenger that was funny. lol
He wait this long to Sue. He must need some money. This is the dumbest lawsuite I have ever heard of.
evel took it too far far, the way he is carrying on is like what he really wants to say is “how dare a n**** imitate me” this is bullshit, and any judge that takes this case seriously needs their head checked, like bill said, celebs are always being imitated, get over it!!!!
well..i think this lawsuit is dumb as hell! people make parodies and likenesses of people in videos and on tv shows all the time..HOWEVER, i do agree with Evil Knievel that Kanye’s video is a worthless piece of crap lol
lol…didn’t even know he was still alive….
Has anyone seen Evel’s most recent picture? Damn he looks crazy now!
oh puhleeze.. evel needs to fall back, he’s taking himself way too serious
Serves Kanye’s bitch ass right!!! Now maybe he’ll STFU!!!
o well shit happens people goin to sue over stupid shit all day long but it aint shit people can do about it but complain so wat can u do
Ya’ll know what this is really about, don’t you? THOUSANDS of people run around dress like Elvis every year. Cartoonists (political drawings and South Park), SNL and Mad TV parody celebrities using their likeness EVERY DAY.
It is not illegal to parody a celebrity. I read in an article where he was talking about Kanye peddling sexual “filth.” Hmmm…what was so sexually “filthy” in the video?
Whatever. Most young people who watch that video have no idea who Evil Knievel is anyway.
I read about this this morning…what a pointless lawsuit, he should probably be happy because I didnt even know he existed until today..
hmmmmm….well…
I’m no lawyer, but if Evel Knievel’s name and likeness is indeed trademarked, he may just have somewhat of a case. I guess it’s up for the courts to decide if Evel Kanyevel is too close to the real thing or not.
As far as “vulgar and offensive” goes, I don’t think he has much of a case. Haven’t seen the video in a while, but I don’t remember much of it being defamatory (unless he considers kissing Pam Anderson offensive). I don’t think the courts would find it too libellous.
I was about to say some ill shit about artists sampling things either to pay homage or to profit from it. But I just realized I sampled the “AC/DC” logo for a shirt. Lol…;x
I empathize with Evel, but damn, I love AC/DC. It’s more of a tribute to them. Like that Big L shirt I designed. I’m not trying to be greedy and eat off their logo, name or history. They’re just people who inspire me in life.
I’m on the fence about this one. Hopefully I don’t receive a cease & desist order in the mail.
*knocks on wood*
HE’S THE WORSE ANYWAY NEXT…
JUDGE: “EVEL DO U MIND DISCLOSING YOUR AGE?”
EVEL: “NO YOUR HONOR, ILL BE TURING 103 NEXT A WEEK”
JUDGE: OKAY! ARE YOU UMM….BROKE?”
EVEL: “WELL THAT DEPENDS ON UR DEFINITION OF BROKE”
JUDGE: “DO YOU HAVE MONEY IN THE BANK SHORTY WAT U DRANK NIGGA????”
EVEL: “WELL, UMM…NOT PERSAY…WELL NO NO.”
JUDGE: CASE DISMISSED!
EVEL: “NO! NO! WAIT…BUT HE KISSED A WHITE WOMEN…DO U KNOW THE LAST TIME I KISSED A WOMEN?….NOOOOOOOO…HE PROBABLY SMASHED HER TOO…I KNOW HE DID…IM GONNA KILL U KANYEVEL, IM MEAN KANYE!!!!lollololol
What I don’t understand is why Evil has to say that Kanye’s video is “is the most worthless piece of crap I’ve ever seen in my life, and he uses my image to catapult himself on the public.” Unfortunately, this comment smacks of racism. First- if Kanye were a white artist, I doubt he would use such harsh adjectives to describe the video. Second- Contrary to Evil’s claim, Kanye doesn’t need a white man’s persona to catapult him to fame. He already is famous damn it. Whether he likes it or not, Kanye is already on and I believe that the white man thinks that Kanye is using his image or the likeness thereof to gain notoriety when his notoriety has previously been established!
What I think is a good lesson is that it’s not okay to say nigger 10,000 times in your video as he had Tracy Ellis Ross and Nia Long do because no matter what level of fame you’ve garnered, how many Grammy’s you’ve earned, or how much money you make, you’re still a nigger to many lower class whites!
I thought he died a few years ago??
AYANA — Calm down.
You can’t say a comment “smacks of racism” and then paint a completely hypothetical scenerio and base it as fact. You can’t say a man made a racist remark and use “Well, he wouldn’t say that to a white guy” as your excuse when there’s no proof either way. Put the race card away.
Honestly, there are plenty of black people who think Kanye’s video is the most worthless piece of crap they’ve ever seen in their lives, including myself. And I damn sure wouldn’t want my image or likeness up in that mess. Give Evel a break. Everytime somebody says or does something to a black person somebody always has to say it’s racism.
Every time
PITTBBOI- I think you’re the one who needs to calm down.
Everyone has a right to their opinion and I have expressed mine. Express yours, but please don’t make suggestions as to what I should do with my energy, political views or upset. If you knew me, you would know that each time someone says something I do not charge it to a racist mindset.
Your comment is presumptuous. Peace.
#52…I agree that the video is indeed a worthless piece of crap but to take it to this extent is a lil extreme.
I just wonder if Justin Timberlake or Nick Lachey made a video using Evel’s “image” would he still feel obligated to sue them?
You’re right, everyone is entitled to an opinion, but there’s a difference between stating something as an “opinion” and trying to pose an opinion as fact. Also, there’s nothing in the rule book that says an opinion can’t be challenged, and you said “Unfortunately, this comment smacks of racism,” a statement that implies that the racism in the comment is so apparent that it is a given–a statement with which I took issue…which, again, is my right.
I don’t profess to know you outside of what you post on a gossip blog. And it is with those words that I take issue, not your personal life.
They both suck
#54
But see, that’s the thing: A lot of people are claiming Evel made a racist remark not because the comment itself is racist (because it isn”t), but because in their minds they don’t think he would say the same to a white person.
And that does more harm than good. None of us know Evel Knievel personally, so making damning and base judgments of his character is unfair. We can’t label a man we personally don’t know as a racist because of the picture we created in our heads.
I do think the lawsuit is a waste of time, but there’s no proof that race is any sort of motivation here.
Lord have his mercy! I can see that you are using this forum as practice for your personal statement when you apply to Harvard’s graduate program in Unaware Black Studies and that you also want to turn this into a scholarly debate, which it wasn’t mean to be. Really now, this is, as you said a gossip blog! I bow out because you seem to want to get into a pissing match over semantics and again, this issue is really a matter of public and varied opinion. I didn’t think that I would have to defend my opinions on this here post so in that case, I’ll just beat it Michael. Peace out!
Of coarse the BLACK blog thinks it’s wrong because the copy cat is being stupid ! Your all stupid and I hope Evil wins ! Kanye is a damn crybaby any ways !
wow@ this lawsuit does he need money or some shiz I thought what Kanye did would make him more famous lol!