Legendary daredevil
motorcycle stuntman Robert Craig "Evel" Knievel has filed a multi-million
dollar lawsuit against Kanye West, claiming the Chicago rapper tarnished his image
in the video for the hit single "Touch The Sky."The
lawsuit, which was filed in U.S. District Court, accuses Kanye West of trademark
infringement and unauthorized use of the Evel Knievel image by using vulgar,
sexual and racially questionable content. Roc-A-Fella
Records and "Touch the Sky" video director Chris Milk are also named
as defendants in the lawsuit. Knievel,
68, claims the video disgraced him and accuses Kanye West of ripping his image
apart. The
video, which stars actress Pamela Anderson Lee, features Kanye West as a fictional
stuntman named "Evel Kanyevel" attempting to jump a canyon. Evel Knievel’s
lawyer Richard Fee claims the video is a recreation of Knievel’s failed attempt
to jump the Snake River Canyon in Western Wyoming in 1974."In
my opinion, this video maybe reflects West and his way of life, but it’s sure
not mine," Knievel told the St. Petersburg Times. "I don’t want
my children or my grandchildren associated with this kind of thing…I want it
stopped."Knievel
is also seeking royalties and an injunction to prevent Kanye West from using Evil
Knievel’s image in the future. The single and video for "Touch the Sky"
are taken from West’s triple platinum album, Late Registration.West
and the "Touch the Sky" video were subject of controversy last month
at the MTV Europe Music Awards. The
rapper burst onto the stage as Justice and Simian were being awarded Best Video
and went into a tirade over losing in the category. West
later apologized to Justice and Simian for his antics.
