LeBron James sued for 'serious cash' after allegedly major ripoff
Earlier this month, LeBron James started a legal battle with the University of Alabama football program over its video series set in a barbershop.
The NBA star claimed the Crimson Tide’s “Shop Talk,” which features coach Nick Saban and Alabama players having unscripted discussions in a barbershop, is too similar to “The Shop,” a series James created for his multimedia platform, Uninterrupted.
💈🗣Shop Talk Episode 1 coming soon! #RollTide#BamaCuts pic.twitter.com/QHC1dTjjzh
— Alabama Football (@AlabamaFTBL) March 27, 2018
Now the tables have turned on James.
A company called Adventure Enterprises has filed a lawsuit claiming LeBron’s company ripped off its idea for a talk show set in a barbershop, TMZ Sports reported Monday.
According to the report, the company says it pitched Uninterrupted about the idea for a show called “Shop Talk” in which celebrities share their business success stories while getting a haircut.
However, James cut Adventure Enterprises out of the picture and created his copycat show, “The Shop,” the company claims in its lawsuit.
After the first episode of “The Shop” went up last year, Adventure Enterprises reportedly “confronted LeBron’s people” and received an “apology and assurances it was a one-time deal and wouldn’t happen again.”
But Uninterrupted has put out two more episodes.
Adventure Enterprises wants an injunction prohibiting James and his company from producing any more, according to TMZ.
“They also want some serious cash,” the report said.
https://twitter.com/tbane303/status/986276227651534848
TMZ reported that a source close to LeBron and his business partner, Uninterrupted CEO Maverick Carter, called the Adventure Enterprises lawsuit “totally frivolous and publicity seeking.”
ESPN also quoted a source close to James and Carter: “The company sought a payment eight months ago and were told their claim was ridiculous, and they disappeared. They clearly saw the media around the University of Alabama story and saw an opportunity for a publicity stunt.”
Saban was similarly dismissive when asked about the legal moves against Alabama’s “Shop Talk” by LeBron and his company.
“I think LeBron James is a great player,” the coach said. “There’s been at least 20 barbershop-type things I’ve seen on TV. I didn’t know anybody owned that. I didn’t even know he had one.
“I’m sorry anybody could be offended by something we were just having fun with. I enjoyed it, and we’re going to continue to do it.”
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