Rachel ‘Raygun’ Gunn’s lawyers are understood to have asked a comedy club to reimburse them $10,000 after his legal counsel canceled a musical performance that was to be based on his trip to the 2024 Paris Games.
The performance, which was titled Raygun the Musical, was written by comedian Stephanie Broadbridge and was due to take place at Kinselas in Darlinghurst on December 7.
The show was canceled at the last minute after Raygun’s lawyers asked the organizers to cancel the show due to an intellectual property dispute.
The musical was designed to depict the breakdancer’s Olympic journey during a 90-minute show and featured original songs including ‘You May Be A B-Girl But You’ll Always Be An A Girl To Me’ and ‘I Had Won But I Pulled’. A muscle’.
It was first understood that Raygun’s lawyers had called off the proceedings in a bid to protect their client’s “intellectual property” and ensure “its brand remains strong and respected.”
He Sydney Morning Herald revealed the contents of the letter on Wednesday which had been sent to the owner of Darlinghurst’s iD Comedy Club, Anthony Skinner, who had been asked to bear his legal fees.
Lawyers for Rachel ‘Raygun’ Gunn are understood to have asked a comedy club to refund them $10,000.
The performance, titled Raygun the Musical, was written by comedian Stephanie Broadbridge (pictured) and was due to take place at Kinselas in Darlinghurst on December 7.
Raygun’s legal team had shut down the show, which had already sold 70 tickets and was based on his Olympic journey.
Skinner, who was outraged by the letter, had planned to send proceeds from the show to a women’s shelter, having made a profit of $500 on the sale of 70 tickets.
Skinner had offered to pay Raygun $500 in compensation, which the lawyers rejected in the letter.
According to The Sydney Morning Herald, Gunn’s intellectual property includes his “story, personal history, Olympics videos and choreography.”
The letter included multiple “absolute commitments” for Skinner to complete. One of those clauses included a request that said: “You will reimburse our client for his legal costs to date, which we estimate to be $10,000.”
Skinner was taken aback by the letter, telling The Age: “When they sent that $10,000 letter, I thought, ‘You’re kidding.’
‘I’m thinking about studying law right now!
‘The average person has no idea about any of this. It seems like they’re just using that to their advantage and trying to make people fall apart. I think they think my comedy business is more successful than it is.
Skinner claimed that paying legal fees could bankrupt his business.
The Olympian had offered an explanation for the decision to close the musical.
“People should know that this kind of nonsense is being done: trying to take $10,000 from a business whose sole purpose is simply to support comedians.”
He added: “If anyone wants to help, that would be fantastic.” Legal issues are not really our forte. We just make people laugh.’
Raygun offered an explanation for the decision to close the program during a social media post on Friday of last week.
“People had assumed that we had developed it, that we had approved it, and it damaged a lot of relationships both personal and professional,” he said.
‘That’s why my management team and my legal team had to work so quickly to close the musical.
“It was really unfortunate that the show had to be canceled so close to launch.
‘I know the artist would have worked a lot on it and that really sucks.
“If we had known earlier, the outcome could have been different.”
He added that the decision was not made because he could not “take a joke.”
“I really strive to support creativity and I loved how my performance sparked so many different artistic interpretations and there were so many great memes that were clever, funny and creative,” she said.
Broadbridge had issued a humorous response to Raygun’s lawyers on social media.
“I have a whole folder of them on my phone, so not being able to take a joke isn’t the issue here.”
Broadbridge had previously offered an apology to the Olympian while speaking on Channel 10’s The Project.
“If you’re watching, I just want to tell you that I’m very sorry for any negativity you may have received as a result of this,” Broadbridge said in a speech to Raygun.
‘I can promise you that was not my intention. It was supposed to be me trying to make you feel like the icon I think you can be in Australia.