Australian breaker Rachael “Raygun” Gunn found herself at the center of a whirlwind of jokes and criticism following her controversial performance at the Paris Olympics. Despite her efforts to maintain a good spirit amidst the global attention, the saga took an unexpected turn with the cancellation of “Raygun: the Musical” just hours before its scheduled premiere in Sydney. Comedian Stephanie Broadbridge made the difficult decision to call off the show after receiving legal threats from Gunn’s lawyers regarding the use of trademarked material associated with the Olympian’s persona.
Broadbridge took to social media to share the news with her followers, explaining that the legal complications arose from the trademarked poster of the musical and Gunn’s ownership of the kangaroo dance that had gained notoriety post-Olympics. Gunn, a 37-year-old university lecturer hailing from Sydney, expressed feeling “devastated” by the fallout from her Olympic breaking performance, leading her to retire from competitive endeavors. Despite the challenges, she acknowledged the attention received from notable comedians like late-night host Jimmy Fallon, expressing a willingness to eventually watch the comedic commentary on her performance.
In a surprising turn of events, Broadbridge updated her followers on Instagram, revealing that the musical had been rebranded as “Breaking: The Musical.” The revised production positioned itself as a legally permissible parody musical, with a new poster featuring a kangaroo silhouette striking Raygun’s iconic pose. Gunn, in a statement shared on Instagram, announced that her legal team had successfully navigated the issues with Broadbridge, allowing the show to proceed under its new title and imagery. Gunn extended her best wishes to Broadbridge for the continuation of the musical and its upcoming tour, emphasizing her satisfaction with the resolution reached.
Contrary to speculations circulating in the media, Gunn clarified that she had not demanded a payment of 10,000 Australian dollars ($6,230) for the use of her name in connection with the musical. Reports suggesting such demands were dismissed by Gunn, who emphasized that her legal team had been acting in her best interests from the outset of the dispute. Previous claims indicating requests for payment from the musical’s promoter and the iD Comedy Club owner were refuted by Gunn, who expressed her support for the charitable cause the show was intended to benefit.
Anthony Skinner, the promoter planning to direct proceeds from the show to a women’s shelter in Sydney, embraced the unexpected publicity the production garnered amidst the legal challenges. With the revised show scheduled for performances in Adelaide, Melbourne, and Sydney in the coming months, Skinner expressed gratitude for the attention drawn to the musical’s journey. Gunn, in a candid social media video, underscored her motivation for requesting her name be disassociated from the musical, emphasizing her respect for creativity and diverse artistic interpretations inspired by her initial performance.
