Former U.S. Rep. George Santos has initiated an unexpected legal battle, filing a lawsuit in the southern district of New York against late-night host Jimmy Kimmel, ABC, and Walt Disney Co. Santos alleges that Kimmel deceived him into creating videos on the Cameo app, only to mock and ridicule him on national television.
Santos, expelled from the House of Representatives due to multiple fraud and theft charges, claims that Kimmel misrepresented himself to obtain personalized videos from Santos, exploiting his “gregarious personality.” The lawsuit includes charges of copyright infringement, fraudulent inducement, breach of contract, and unjust enrichment.
According to reports from The Associated Press on Sunday, February 18, Santos asserts that Kimmel submitted over a dozen fake requests under phony names and narratives, unbeknownst to Santos. These videos, created by Santos, were later featured in a segment on Kimmel’s show titled “Will Santos Say It?” which began airing in December.
One particular clip showcased Santos congratulating the supposed winner of a beef-eating contest, praising the consumption of 6 pounds of loose ground beef in under 30 minutes. Despite the humorous nature of Kimmel’s fake requests, Santos’ attorney, Robert Fantone, emphasized that they constituted a clear violation of copyright law.
“Frankly, Kimmel’s fake requests were funny, but what he did was a clear violation of copyright law,” Fantone stated in an email to AP.
Santos is seeking statutory damages of $750,000 for the five videos played on the show and various social media platforms. Additionally, he is asking for further damages to be determined during the trial.
Facing criminal charges, including defrauding campaign donors and misusing campaign contributions, Santos pleaded not guilty to a revised indictment in October. Despite his legal challenges, Santos continues to grapple with the aftermath of his expulsion from the House of Representatives and the alleged exploitation by Jimmy Kimmel.
