In response to the latest episode of Pauline Hanson’s Please Explain cartoon, Robert Irwin, the son of the late Steve Irwin, threatened legal action against the One Nation leader.
According to reports, FC Lawyers sent a cease and desist notice to the production company behind the show.
It’s believed that the letter was sent on Friday night. In the latest episode, Mr Irwin was mocked for his appearance alongside the cartoon character Bluey, who is promoting a tourism campaign for the state of Queensland.
In her letter, Zoe Naylor, a lawyer for FC Lawyers, claimed that the show is defamatory and that the use of his client’s image is unauthorized.
In the letter, the lawyer demanded that the show be taken off the air and the studio stop using Irwin’s image without his permission.
She also stated that the company was liable for defamation and other deceptive acts.
The letter stated that the company would be taking legal action if the show continued to use Irwin’s image without permission.
The episode mocks the various issues that Queenslanders face, such as housing, health care, and youth crime.
In one of the scenes, Mr Irwin and Bluey accidentally line up for a rental property at a Movie World.
In the episode, Bluey is called a “bad boy” by delinquents, while Mr Irwin is informed that there is a six month wait for medical care.
The letter claims that the cartoon has tarnished Mr Irwin’s reputation and has caused significant damage to his image.
The letter stated that the use of Irwin’s image could be an attempt to pass off the company as an authorized partner or associate, which it is not.
It also warned that the use could cause consumers to believe that the show is affiliated with FC Lawyers.
Using Irwin’s name and image in the video could cause people to mistakenly believe that Pauline Hanson is connected to him.
The company has given StepMates Studios until Monday to remove the offending footage.
If the company refuses to do so, Mr Irwin’s lawyers will take the matter to the Federal and District courts.
James Ashby, One Nation’s chief of staff, told NewsWire that the party disputes the letter and will respond through its lawyers.
It’s believed that Sue Chrysanthou, a leading defamation lawyer, has also been consulted by the group.