The anticipated debut of 'Raygun: The Musical' faced abrupt cancellation after Rachael Gunn's legal team intervened, asserting ownership over the dance moves depicted in the show.
Raygun Musical Ceases Production Following Legal Threat from Olympian Rachael Gunn
Raygun Musical Ceases Production Following Legal Threat from Olympian Rachael Gunn
A comedic take on Rachael Gunn's Olympic journey shut down after intellectual property dispute.
Australian breaker Rachael Gunn’s journey to the Olympics has sparked controversy, leading to the cancellation of a planned parody musical, 'Raygun: The Musical.' Created by comedian Steph Broadbridge, the show was set to open this Saturday at Kinselas in Darlinghurst, Sydney, but it abruptly halted after Gunn's legal representatives issued a cease and desist letter.
Gunn's team argues that the musical infringes on her intellectual property rights, specifically claiming ownership over her unique dance moves which gained attention during her Olympic appearance. In a statement shared with the Guardian, they emphasized their dedication to protecting Gunn's brand and ensuring it remains respected within the sports community.
Broadbridge, who was also slated to appear in the production, expressed her confusion regarding the claims, particularly about the kangaroo-hop dance, which she referred to as "an Olympic-level dance." In her Instagram video, she lamented not having any formal training in breakdancing and questioned the feasibility of excluding such iconic moves from her performance.
In the wake of the cancellation, all ticket buyers were promised refunds for the A$10 tickets. Broadbridge remains optimistic, stating she plans to rework the show and return with a different narrative in the future. "Gunn's legal team felt I was compromising her brand, but that was never my intention," she clarified.
Notably, Gunn did not score any points during her Olympic competition, which led to a backlash that further complicated her ongoing career in breakdancing. After contemplating a continuation of her career, she chose to retire following the negative experiences associated with the Olympics.
Toward the end of her video, Broadbridge mentioned her idea to alter her character's name to "Raygun with an I" to alleviate the concerns raised. Gunn's legal team reiterated that their actions were not aimed at undermining the efforts put into the musical but to uphold the integrity of the athlete's brand.
