Rachael “Raygun” Gunn, the Australian breakdancer who won hearts with her iconic performance at the Paris Olympics, has found herself in hot water after a legal letter demanding $10,000 from a comedy club became public.
The Comedy Club Debacle
The show, set to take place at the iD Comedy Club in Darlinghurst, Sydney, was shut down on the basis that it was infringing on Gunn’s intellectual property.
But things took a turn for the worse when the full demands from her legal team were revealed. The letter sent to the club’s owner, Anthony Skinner, stated that he had to agree to several “absolute undertakings,” including reimbursing Gunn’s legal costs to date, estimated at $10,000.
The Backlash Begins
Needless to say, the news sparked a fierce backlash on social media, with fans far and wide blasting the Aussie Olympian. Many were quick to point out the hypocrisy of Gunn’s actions, citing her earlier claims that she wasn’t about the money.
“You Should Have Embraced This”
Hello Sports podcast hosts Tom Birmingham and Eddy Simpson took aim at Gunn for not embracing the comedy show and allowing others to join in on the fun her Olympics performance created. Simpson even guessed that Gunn’s move was a strategic ploy to get back in the news cycle.
The Internet Reacts
The news sparked a flurry of reactions on social media, with many calling out Gunn for her actions. One writer joked that Gunn went from saying “this is not about the money” to demanding $10,000 within the space of a few days. Another added that Gunn turned out to be what Australians actually are – “narc cops with zero sense of humour about themselves.”
The Comedian’s Response
Comedian Stephanie Broadbridge, who was set to perform the show, took to social media to deliver several tongue-in-cheek jabs over the demands. She even posted a video wearing an Australian tracksuit, mimicking Gunn’s Olympic outfit.
Gunn Breaks Her Silence
In a video posted to Instagram, Gunn stated that her decision to launch legal action was not a financial one. She claimed that she had trademarked her name and “famous kangaroo silhouette pose” to block third parties from snatching her fame for their own commercial purposes.
Trademark Troubles
Gunn said that she was notified that other parties were trying to trademark her name and image for commercial purposes, which led her to take action. She also moved to clear the air by stating that she was not laying claim to the kangaroo dance, adding that it was inspired by Australia’s Olympic mascot BK, the boxing kangaroo.