Rachael ‘Raygun’ Gunn’s $10K legal move sparks fierce backlash

Rachael ‘Raygun’ Gunn has sparked a fierce social media storm with her latest move going down like a lead balloon.

Rachael “Raygun” Gunn is under heavy fire after a legal letter demanding $10,000 from a comedy club became public.

The Australian breakdancer and her lawyers, 17 Degrees, took swift action on December 6 to shut down a comedian’s attempt to pay musical tribute to her moves at the Paris Olympics.

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The show, set to take place at the iD Comedy Club in Darlinghurst, Sydney, was shut down on the basis it was infringing Gunn’s intellectual property.

But now the full demands from her legal team have been revealed with the letter sent to the club’s owner Anthony Skinner.

“You will reimburse our client with legal costs to date which we estimate to be $10,000,” the letter stated as one of several “absolute undertakings” Mr Skinner was required to agree to.

Other conditions included cancelling the proposed show, removing all references to Gunn from promotions and advertising along with providing evidence of the cancellation of the show.

He was also ordered he agree not to use Gunn’s “intellectual property” including the name, her pose, Olympic recordings and her story or history.

Raygun and her legal team are demanding $10,000 from the comedy club. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Skinner said he had offered Raygun’s legal team the $500 made in revenue from ticket sales, but that offer was promptly rejected.

“When they sent that $10,000 letter, I was like, ‘You’re f***ing joking’,” he said to the Sydney Morning Herald.

“I’m hoping this will stop.

“I run a stand up comedy business in a city and country that’s not designed for comedy in any way.

“It’s $50 in tolls to get in and out (of the city), it’s already tough enough to get people in.”

News of Raygun’s latest legal move sparked fierce backlash on social media with fans far and wide blasting the Aussie Olympian.

It’s not the first move that has drawn backlash. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

Hello Sports podcast hosts Tom Birmingham and Eddy Simpson took aim at the athlete for not simply embracing the comedy show and allowing others to join in on the fun her Olympics performance created.

“I was starting to get around her, you know she was leaning into it a litte bit. I was happy for her, coming back and making some money,” Birmingham said.

“And then now this, I’m like you should have embraced this.”

Simpson agreed while guessing it was a strategic ploy from Raygun to get back in the news cycle.

“You should have embraced this because now people are like ‘you’re a f***ing loser again’.”

Simpson said:

“There’s a part of me that thinks she knows exactly what she’s doing.

“She’s like ‘where’s it held? Oxford St. How many seats? 20. How much are people paying? $10.’

“There’s $200 we’re talking about here now, if I sue I’m back on The Project, I’m in the limelight again.

“This (comedy show) wasn’t going to be at the state theatre, this is bush league stuff.”

Gunn has become public enemy number one. (Photo by Odd ANDERSEN / AFP)

Writer John Delmenico wrote on X: “Raygun went from ‘this is not about the money’ to ‘give me 10 grand’ within the space of a few days. I guess shutting down local artists from trying to raise money for DV shelters wasn't cartoonishly evil enough for her.”

Another added: “Raygun tried to pass herself off as what Australians want to be, a loveable larrikin, giving it a go, no shame. But she turned out to be what Australians actually are - narc cops with zero sense of humour about themselves.”

A third wrote: “Why did Raygun take this path instead of having a sense of humour about it and becoming someone Australia is fond of and doing ads and going on I’m a celebrity etc.”

The Sydney Morning Herald’s Jordan Baker wrote: “If her reputation has suffered further since she got home, it’s her own doing. Her attempt at controlling her image is not only unsportsmanlike; it’s against everything Gunn’s own breaking culture is supposed to be about.”

Raygun broke her silence on having the musical shut down. Picture: Instagram

Steph Broadbridge was the comedian behind the musical. (IMAGE AAP/Chris Pavlich)

Comedian Stephanie Broadbridge, who was set to perform the show, took to social media in the wake of the musical being cancelled and delivered several tongue-in-cheek jabs over the demands.

“Hi I’m comedian Steph Broadbridge, just hanging out in my casual daywear,” she said while wearing an Australian tracksuit like the one Raygun wore during the Paris Games.

“My trial show tonight for Raygun the Musical has been cancelled. Raygun’s lawyers got in touch with the venue and threatened legal action so we will be refunding everyone their $10.

“They were worried that I was damaging her brand which I would never do ... she doesn’t need me to do that.

“They also said I wasn’t allowed to do the dance because she owns the kangaroo dance. “That’s an Olympic level dance ... how would I possibly be able to do that without any formal breakdancing training.”

Gunn’s latest move comes after she detailed the reasons behind why she and her legal team had shut down the musical.

In a video posted to Instagram earlier in the week, Gunn stated her decision to launch legal action was not a financial one.

“I have been contacted to go on just about every reality TV show out there and declined big money because I’m not about that,” she said.

“Remember, also, there is a person behind all this, with a family, with friends, and who, until a few months ago, nobody had even heard off,” she said.

“I’m really just trying to do my best to navigate this new chapter of my life.”

Gunn said she had trademarked her name and “famous kangaroo silhouette pose” to block third parties from snatching her fame for their own commercial purposes.

“Yes, I’ve trademarked my name and my now famous kangaroo silhouette pose, which is being used in just about every piece of Raygun merch out there, which I’m not profiting from by the way,” she said.

“And the reason we did that is because we were notified there were applications from other parties trying to trademark my name and image for commercial purposes. I mean totally wild.”

She also moved to clear the air by stating she was not laying claim to the kangaroo dance.

“It in no way mimics Aboriginal dance,” she said, adding the moves were inspired by Australia’s Olympic mascot BK, the boxing kangaroo.

“I wanted to represent and celebrate that spirit.”

Originally published as Rachael ‘Raygun’ Gunn’s $10K legal move sparks fierce backlash