Jimmy Kimmel mocks George Santos as he demands $20,000 from host for playing his Cameo videos on show
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Jimmy Kimmel is facing legal action from disgraced ex-lawmaker George Santos, who claims the comedian owes him over $20,000 for using unauthorized Cameo videos on his show.
According to The Daily Beast, the dispute stems from Kimmel's new segment, "Will Santos Say It," which features bizarre requests made to Santos via Cameo under pseudonyms.
Santos threatens legal action against Kimmel over aired Cameo videos
Santos alleges that Kimmel violated Cameo's terms of service by airing these personal messages without permission. He claims the videos were not intended for personal use and asserts that Kimmel's airing of these videos might breach Cameo's terms
Santos claims the total invoice for the videos, excluding the $2,000 already paid, is "$21,800 and change," accounting for "a 50 percent business rush rate" since they were not for personal use.
He further threatened to sue Kimmel if he continues to air these videos without paying the full amount.
The comedian seemed unfazed by the demand, asserting a light-hearted perspective on the situation.
Kimmel dismisses Santos' threat as a joke
Kimmel responded to the threat by dismissing it as a joke, stating, "The idea that Mr Santos would claim we shortchanged him and used credit card purchases improperly proves once and for all that the man is a comedy genius."
Despite his reputation as someone willing to do anything for money, Santos claims he has rejected hundreds of Cameo requests that didn't align with his "guiding compass."
He specifically mentioned refusing requests for "pro-Osama bin Laden stuff" and "antisemitism," citing the impact of 9/11 and his personal background.
Following his expulsion from Congress, Santos has embraced his reputation "as a liar" and claims to have made $350,000 from Cameo requests priced at $500 each.
While he acknowledged Kimmel's humor at his expense, he asserted, "I'm laughing all the way to the bank."
The legal battle between Kimmel and Santos is ongoing, and it remains to be seen how the situation will unfold.
However, one thing is clear: the controversy has further cemented Santos' image as a controversial figure, and Kimmel's actions have not gone unnoticed.
