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Imitation is supposedly the sincerest form of flattery. However, the Australian breakdancing sensation known as Raygun doesn’t seem to think that’s the case after sending a cease-and-desist letter to the creator of a musical inspired by her rise to fame.
Breakdancing (or, as it was officially referred to, “breaking”) made its Olympics debut in Paris over the summer, and while I doubt most people reading this can name the person who won the women’s competition, they’re likely very familiar with Rachael Gunn, the “b-girl” from Australia who competed under the “Raygun” moniker.
Raygun failed to record a single point in the three rounds she competed in before being eliminated from contention, but the 37-year-old who makes a living as a professor specializing in hip-hop culture nonetheless emerged as the undisputed star of the event thanks to some very unorthodox dance moves that saw her awkwardly convulse on the ground and hop around like a kangaroo.
That viral performance led to plenty of mockery that played a role in her decision to retire from formal breakdancing competitions in the wake of the Olympics, but Raygun has mostly been a pretty good sport about the attention she received after being thrust into the international spotlight.
However, according to The Guardian, she’s apparently drawing the line with Raygun: The Musical, a “parody exploration” of her journey dreamed up by comedian Steph Broadbridge that was scheduled to premiere in Sydney on Saturday before it was canceled due to a legal threat.
Broadbridge posted a tongue-in-cheek video on Instagram where she announced the show had been canceled after Raygun’s legal team threatened to take action against the theater where the show was going to be held if they allowed it to go on.
She asserts they were concerned it had the potential to damage her brand, thought people may think Raygun was involved or had given it her seal of approval, and told her she wasn’t permitted to do the signature kangaroo hop (Broadbridge may have been joking about that last one, as there’s no mechanism to trademark or otherwise legally protect a dance move).
Raygun’s lawyers issued a statement to explain their rationale while hinting she’s currently in the process of obtaining a trademark for her b-girl name to protect the “integrity of her brand,” 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 endeavors.”
What a world.
Raygun Threatens Legal Action To Shut Down Musical Based On Her Viral Rise
Raygun Musical Shut Down After Viral Breakdancer Threatens To Sue