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- A parody musical about breakdancer Raygun was canceled following legal threats from her lawyers.
- Rachael Gunn became an internet meme after her routine at the Paris Olympics scored zero points.
- Her team cited brand integrity and misuse of intellectual property as reasons for their actions.
A musical inspired by Rachael “Raygun” Gunn, the Australian Olympic breakdancer who became a viral meme earlier this year, has been canceled after Gunn’s lawyers got involved.
The organizers described the musical, which was due to debut over the weekend, as a “parody exploration of a breakdancer’s journey to the 2024 Paris Olympics.”
Raygun, an academic and lecturer, became one of the standout stars of the Olympics this summer, though not for her sporting prowess.
In August, her routine at the round-robin stage of the women’s breaking competition, which included unconventional moves inspired by kangaroos, scored zero points.
The backlash she received prompted her to retire from breakdancing.
Gunn said the scrutiny she faced had been “really upsetting” and “impossible to process.”
She told 2DayFM, a Sydney radio station, “I still dance, and I still break, but that’s like, in my living room with my partner.”
Steph Broadbridge, a comedian and the creator of ‘Raygun: The Musical,’ announced its cancellation in an Instagram video, saying the show’s venue had received a legal notice from Gunn’s lawyers.
Kinselas, the venue, did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.
The BBC said her lawyers sent a cease and desist.
In the video post, Broadbridge said: “Raygun’s lawyers got in touch with the venue and threatened legal action, so we will be refunding everyone their $10 or comp ticket back for that.”
She said that the legal team was “worried that I was damaging her brand, which I would never do.”
“She doesn’t need me to do that,” Broadbridge added.
The comedian also said in the post that the lawyers had instructed her not to do the “kangaroo” dance because Gunn “owns” it.
Gunn’s representatives did not respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.
However, the retired breakdancer’s legal and management team confirmed in a statement provided to The Guardian that they had intellectual property rights concerns.
“The use of the ‘Raygun’ name by a comedian without approval has caused confusion among the public, potentially leading them to believe that ‘Raygun The Musical’ had Rachael’s endorsement or approval,” they said.
“This misuse of intellectual property is not only misleading but also jeopardises Rachael’s other commercial ventures, which rely on the integrity of her brand,” they added.
The team told the outlet that they had “immense respect” for the work that went into developing the show, but that their actions were to “safeguard Rachael’s creative rights and the integrity of her work.”
