George Santos sues late-night host Jimmy Kimmel

Former U.S. Representative George Santos has filed a lawsuit against late-night host Jimmy Kimmel, ABC, and Walt Disney Co., alleging that Kimmel deceived him into creating videos on the Cameo app that were later used to mock him on Kimmel’s show.

The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, accuses Kimmel of misrepresentation, copyright infringement, fraudulent inducement, breach of contract, and unjust enrichment. Santos, who was expelled from the House of Representatives last year amid charges of fraud and theft from donors, claims that Kimmel misled him into producing personalized videos under false pretenses.

According to the complaint, Kimmel submitted at least 14 requests to Santos through the Cameo app, using phony names and scenarios. These videos, unbeknownst to Santos, were then incorporated into a segment on Kimmel’s show titled “Will Santos Say It?” starting in December.

One of the clips highlighted in the lawsuit features Santos congratulating the purported winner of a beef-eating contest, expressing admiration for the individual’s ability to consume 6 pounds of ground beef in under 30 minutes.

Robert Fantone, an attorney for Santos, emphasized the violation of copyright law in Kimmel’s actions, acknowledging the humorous nature of the fake requests but asserting their legal impropriety.

Santos is seeking $750,000 in statutory damages for the five videos played on Kimmel’s show and various social media platforms, along with additional damages to be determined at trial.

The former lawmaker, who faces multiple criminal charges related to campaign finance fraud and misuse of funds, maintains his innocence and pleaded not guilty to a revised indictment in October. On Tuesday, Democrat Tom Suozzi won a special election for Santos’ former congressional seat.

As Santos pursues legal recourse against Kimmel and associated entities, the case underscores the complexities surrounding the use of digital platforms for comedic purposes and the legal ramifications of deceptive practices in media production.