The creator of a musical based on the well-known Olympic breakdancer Raygun shared that the show was cancelled just hours before its scheduled opening after the athlete’s attorneys threatened legal action.
Australian comedian Steph Broadbridge, who planned and will star in “Raygun: The Musical,” claimed that the breakdancer’s lawyers got in contact with the venue and ‘threatened legal action.’
Broadbridge said: “They were worried I was damaging her brand, which I would never do… They were very concerned that people would think that Rachael Gunn was affiliated with the musical.”
She added: “I want to assure everyone that she will not be part of the show. She’s very welcome to come; I would love for her to see it.”
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All about the musical
The parody musical aimed to recount the tale of Australian breaker Rachael Gunn, popularly known as Raygun, whose performance at the Olympics in Paris sparked a backlash against both her and the sport itself. It also led to numerous memes on social media.
Raygun was known as an athlete who performed a series of body contortions while crawling or lying on the floor, including a reverse roll and a kangaroo hop. In the Paris Olympics, she lost 18-0 in all three rounds against breakers from France, Lithuania, and the United States, failing to record a single point.
Anyone who purchased a ticket would receive a refund of $10 Australian dollars ($6.45). The Women’s and Girls Emergency Centre, a charity that assists women and children impacted by homelessness, domestic abuse, and systematic inequality, was the original recipient of the event’s revenues.
Moreover, Broadbrigde also mentioned that the musical’s poster, which featured a silhouette of the breakdancer’s well-known kangaroo hop, was copyrighted by the athlete’s attorneys, who claimed she was not allowed to do the dance since Gunn “owns” it.
With this, Broadbridge exclaimed: “That one did puzzle me – I mean, that’s an Olympic-level dance. How would I possibly be able to do that without any formal breakdancing training?”
Raygun’s agency commented on this issue, saying: “While we have immense respect for the credible work and effort that has gone into the development of the show, we must take necessary steps to safeguard Rachael’s creative rights and the integrity of her work… This action is not intended to diminish the contributions of others, but rather to ensure her brand is properly represented and protected in all future endeavours.”
Source: CNN