Rachael ‘Raygun’ Gunn has copped claims that she lied in her apology video for cancelling Steph Broadbridge‘s musical in her name, after comedian Lewis Spears alleged a copy of the letter sent by Raygun’s lawyers was leaked to him.
However, last week the average time between headlines plummeted from hours to minutes, when news surfaced that Raygun’s lawyers had sent a cease and desist to Sydney comedian Steph Broadbridge, forcing her to cancel her musical — aptly titled Raygun: The Musical — the day it was meant to open.
On Sunday morning, Raygun released an apology video claiming she was “totally blindsided” by the musical’s existence.
“The first we heard of it was last Friday [December 6] when it was a story in the Sydney Morning Herald and on Channel 7 news,” she said in a video on Instagram.
Raygun in her video responding to backlash over musical cancellation. (Source: Instagram)
However, comedian Lewis Spears claims to have been leaked the cease and desist letter, arguing it tells a different story to Raygun’s one.
“In my opinion, it appears that Raygun is lying in her public statements about the lawsuit and the apology,” Spears said in a YouTube video, claiming that Raygun’s public statements “don’t line up” with the legal letter. PEDESTRIAN.TV isn’t suggesting that Spears’ claims are true, just that he made them.
Lewis Spears claims Raygun lied in apology video
A key part of Spears’ argument involves the timeline around Raygun trademarking her infamous kangaroo move. This trademark on an image of her moves was what Raygun’s lawyers used to claim Broadbridge’s show infringed her intellectual property rights.
In her apology, Raygun said that she only found out about Broadbridge’s musical on December 6, which is when her legal letter was sent to Broadbridge and the musical’s venue.
While the timing could have been a coincidence, according to Spears Spears it is unlikely the trademark application on the kangaroo image actually dated back to the same day Broadbridge announced the show — September 25.
“We can actually see exactly when Raygun’s team trademarked the silhouette of the kangaroo pose that you see on the poster. It was trademarked the very same day, the 25th of September,” Spears suggested.
Promotional material for Raygun: The Musical. (Source: Steph Broadbridge)
He then highlighted how unlikely it was that the trademark application was submitted on the same day Broadbridge unveiled her poster featuring that very image — all while Raygun knew nothing of the musical.
“So you’re saying you only found out about this musical the morning you sent off the legal letter, but we have evidence that you trademarked the silhouette after Steph Broadbridge posted it on Instagram?” Spears said.
“It seems, in my opinion, that it appears, that someone is telling a few fibs.”
@lewspears
Remember Raygun? She’s threatening to sue a comedian over jokes and claiming that she owns the copyright to the “kangaroo dance” #ReelTalk #raygun #australia
♬ original sound – Lewis Spears
Lewis says press will be good for musical
In his video, Spears also reflected on the pressure that Steph Broadbridge must be under as a result of having her show come under the nation’s spotlight.
Spears, who has also found himself at the centre of media storms, said the decision to cancel shows is almost always out of the comedian’s hands.
“As funny as it often is, I also I know how stressful it can be to not know if your show will actually go ahead due to reasons out of your control,” he told PEDESTRIAN.TV.
“However, publicity is almost always good and I’m hoping Steph comes back with her show.”
So to show his support for Broadbridge, Spears set up a Change.org page petitioning to let her perform Raygun: The Musical, which quickly received hundreds of signatures.
“We’re coming up to 1000 people on the petition which not only sends a message to fragile public figures who can’t take a joke, but also will notify people when Steph does put a show on sale,” Spears told PTV.
“It’s important for comedians to stand up for each other, we don’t want to let people think they can use lawyers to shut down jokes they don’t like.
“Also Raygun if you’re reading this, I will be dancing like a kangaroo at every single one of my shows next year.”
Steph Broadbridge has not yet announced what her plans are for Raygun: The Musical going forward, but hopes to be able to perform it in some way next year.
PEDESTRIAN.TV has reached out to Rachael Gunn for comment.
Lead Image: Steph Broadbridge/Raygun/Lewis Spears/Instagram
