Eminem’s Legal Action Against These Real Housewives Stars Took Us Totally by Surprise
When it comes to unexpected celebrity legal disputes, the recent clash between rap legend Eminem and two stars of The Real Housewives of Potomac is a classic case of “you couldn’t make this up.” In an unusual turn of events, Marshall Mathers – known worldwide as Eminem – is embroiled in a legal tussle with Gizelle Bryant and Robyn Dixon, over a podcast name that’s strikingly similar to one of his most iconic monikers.
The controversy revolves around Bryant’s and Dixon’s attempt to trademark the name “Reasonably Shady” for their entertainment ventures. Eminem, who famously introduced himself as the “Real Slim Shady” in his 2000 hit of the same name and holds trademarks for both “Shady” and “Slim Shady,” has moved to block the Housewife duo’s application, arguing that their name could “cause consumer confusion in the minds of consumers.”
While the fact that the rapper is attempting to block the trademark makes sense on paper, the fact that he filed paperwork on Dec. 15 asking the U.S. Trademark Trial and Appeal Board to grant him a protective order from having to appear in person for the whole legal ordeal caught some people off guard.
Fortunately, it doesn’t seem like he is trying to get the protective order for the protection of nothing more than everyone’s time. According to the lawyer’s rappers, Bryant and Dixon’s attempt to make him sit for a deposition are “premature and procedurally improper,” with the rapper’s legal team saying the RHOP “have yet to serve” Eminem “with a notice of deposition, a necessary prerequisite to taking and requesting that the Board compel a deposition.”
Even if he were to be deposed, it wouldn’t do anything to move the case forward. Eminem’s lawyers say that the rapper has a “limited knowledge of the subjects at issue” and any information gleaned from a deposition would be “duplicative,” as other professionals on his legal team have “superior knowledge of said issues,” per AllHipHop. His lawyers called the deposition “unduly burdensome,” given that the rapper’s deposition likely wouldn’t add any new information to the ongoing legal case.
The two Real Housewives stars have yet to publicly respond to Eminem’s legal action. As the case unfolds, many will be watching with bated breath to see how the court rules on this fascinating intersection of reality TV and rap royalty.
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