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Evel Knievel Worried Evel Kanyevel Will Ruin His Rep

12/13/06, 12:36 pm EST

Evel KanyevelLegendary stuntman/hero to the kids Evel Knievel is worried Kanye West may destroy Knievel’s $300 million-a-year merch-hawking industry. Knievel, who markets himself as a wholesome daredevil, is suing the rapper for trademark infringement based on what Knievel claims is the tarnishing of his image by West’s “vulgar, sexual and racially charged” appropriation of the stuntman’s image for his “Touch The Sky” video. The video is classic Kanye — he prances around with Pamela Anderson on his arm, takes shit from black girls for making time with a white chick and then does his own rendition of the legendary Knievel-attempted Snake River Canyon jump, posing (with flashy jumpsuit, Skycycle-like bike and all) as Evel Kanyevel. Subtle it is not. But West’s camp seems to feel they’ll get off the hook here based on a widely accepted exception to the trademark and copyright laws for parody.

Knievel, for his part, is livid. “He’s just a disgrace to me,” Knievel reportedly told Reuters in a telephone interview on Tuesday. “What a cheap shot. What a cheap, two-bit shot.”

We like nothing better than another bit of absurd behavior courtesy of Kanye West but we kinda think Knievel is being a bit of a baby about all this. Are the kids who buy his dorky figurines honestly going to boycott his image because Kanye West impersonated him in some video?


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Comments

Pete | 12/2/2007, 11:56 am EST

Rap and thrash is so tribal! Get the bones out of your noses and join the civilized world!

Marie | 11/28/2007, 2:32 am EST

I am suing him for being trampled in a nightclub he was suppose to perform in and he did not even send me a letter of sympathy.

Thats an artist way of life, my label will pay for it!

IQ | 7/12/2007, 5:57 am EST

It really ashame that we still have racism in America today. I guess most of you whom posted to this page grew up abused by your parents or never seen black people. Your comment are a indication of your hate for a bman, whose a entertainer. Mr. Knievel action would led you to believe that he is in a finaicial crisis. He does have a legal right to sue Kanye. Further, Kanye will for-go some revenue for the video. As mention before the video gave Knievel a promotional boost. I wonder if Fergie got sued for the video “Fergalious” which is based off “Willie Wonka”.

SilverHighJump | 6/25/2007, 11:50 pm EST

Kanye West, what a dork. Evel Knievel is a legend, kanye isnt a pimple on the great Knievels ass. Evel Knievel would just shoot boyeee if he eva got up in his bizzznes. yo yo boyeee crap er rap, same ole shit never changes same ole look same ole beat, its only a matter of time before people get their fill of this monkey shit.

Dateless Dude | 1/18/2007, 7:36 pm EST

Tell Kanye the X-2 Skycyle is for sale on eBay as well as Evel Knievel’s other stuff at relicemporium.com. The fuck can buy the stuff and reshoot his video using what he owns. This would settle any bullshit lawsuit.
Rap Sucks anyhow!

whiteman | 1/11/2007, 3:53 pm EST

F–K all ya haters, Rap is poetic…well the ol skool that is.

inkmonster_71 | 12/15/2006, 11:25 pm EST

Why can,t crybaby Kenye be the next rapper shot,i would sleep with a big smile on my face.

David | 12/15/2006, 2:41 pm EST

Power to Evel Knievel. He’s been a true american hero for years and Kanye is a crybaby punk.

Che | 12/15/2006, 2:04 pm EST

I just think Evil doesn’t want to be associated with a cry baby.

AJ | 12/15/2006, 1:58 pm EST

I hope Knievel gets every penny he sues for. Rap music is garbage anyway.

Kliffee | 12/14/2006, 11:10 am EST

um, Dane?
Evil IS broke. every bone in his body! and he’s old as hell. kanye is lame anyway

Dane | 12/13/2006, 11:07 pm EST

I have to agree with Elizabeth on this one. First of all the video didn’t even get much play. The video was funny and if anything, it put Knievel back on minds of viewers.
Kanye didnt even get an award for the video……that’s why he had to act all stupid and arrogant and jump on stage.
If anything, this makes Knievel look broke and in need of money.

Barneyh8er | 12/13/2006, 5:14 pm EST

Now instead of just sampling others’ tunes, rappers will sample any ol’ thing they want. Makin’ $ for them, nadda for the originator.

Hallzee | 12/13/2006, 3:39 pm EST

“Hello 911, what’s your emergency?”

“Kanye West just stole Evil Knievel’s motorcycle”

Kliffee | 12/13/2006, 3:32 pm EST

Good for Evil keniv…aw hell! it’s a stunt just trying to spell his name?!! screw Rich Boy Kanye.
Hope he loses another award

readytorock | 12/13/2006, 3:05 pm EST

rappers are pathetic and insecure bitches.

Zachra | 12/13/2006, 2:54 pm EST

I guess Evel needs to sue the Simpson’s for their “version” of him, and for Bart’s attempted jump over the Springfield Gorge. That only aired about 15 years ago so I’m sure Evel will be in court filing the appropriate papers soon.

anonymous | 12/13/2006, 2:28 pm EST

I hate kanye west.

travis.watkins002 @ YIM | 12/13/2006, 2:19 pm EST

Shouldn’t West still be doing all he can for the poor blacks in New Orleans…

F West in his metal face!

Richard | 12/13/2006, 2:06 pm EST

Hey Liz Gooman,
Where do get your figures? Do you really think Evel Knievel is earning 300 million from toys? He never made that
kind of money from toys, not even at the peak of his popularity in the 70’s. What Kanye has done is copyright infringement. Plain and simple. Open and shut case. Kanye is the cry baby here. Is he going to appear on an award show now and say he has been robbed again? Get a clue.

HA! | 12/13/2006, 1:59 pm EST

Jumping canyons on a motorcycle… talent.

Rapping while in a jumpsuit… stupid.

Pete | 12/13/2006, 1:48 pm EST

“Evel Knievel hates black people.” - Kanye West

Shaun | 12/13/2006, 1:02 pm EST

I find it a little absurd that he’s all up-in-arms about a video that came out almost a year ago. Might as well be complaining about “Copkiller” raps and how Marilyn Mason is ruining the moral fiber of America.

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