Australian breakdancer Rachael Gunn, known professionally as Raygun, announced that her legal team had resolved issues with comedian Steph Broadbridge regarding a musical inspired by Gunn's Olympic experience. "She still gets to go ahead with the musical, she's got a new name, new poster, and she still gets to take that show on the road. So I'm really happy for her and I wish her all the best with the show and with the tour," Gunn said, according to The Independent.
The musical, originally titled "Raygun: The Musical," was set to premiere in Sydney but was canceled just hours before its debut after Gunn's lawyers issued legal threats. In a follow-up post on the same day, Broadbridge revealed that the production would be rebranded as "Breaking: The Musical" for future performances. The new poster for the rebranded show features the tagline: "A completely legal parody musical," as reported by The Independent.
Gunn's lawyers had contacted the venue, expressing concerns about protecting her image and the potential for audiences to mistakenly believe she was affiliated with the musical. "Raygun's lawyers got in touch with the venue and threatened legal action, so we will be refunding everyone their $10 back for that," Broadbridge stated in an Instagram video, according to Upworthy. "They also said I wasn't allowed to do the dance because she owns the kangaroo dance. That one did puzzle me. I mean, that's an Olympic-level dance. How would I possibly be able to do that without any formal breakdance training?" she added.
The legal action led to criticism toward Gunn, with fans expressing frustration over the show's cancellation. "I heard that the proceeds from the tickets sold for this were going to charity to help women and children facing homelessness. It makes it even worse that Raygun and her lawyers would still pursue this," one fan commented, as reported by Upworthy.
In response to the backlash, Gunn took to social media to clarify her position. "It was really unfortunate that the show had to be canceled so close to the launch. I know the artist would have put a lot of work into it and that really sucks," she said, according to The Age. Gunn emphasized that the decision was not about being unable to accept humor but was necessary to prevent misunderstandings. "People assumed that we had developed it, that we had approved it. And it damaged many relationships, both personal and professional. That is why my management and legal team had to work so quickly to shut the musical down," she added.
Gunn also addressed reports that she had sought a $10,000 payment for legal fees from Anthony Skinner, the owner of the comedy club where the musical was to be performed. "We have not sought any costs from all this. So there's a lot of talk around this $10,000... that was from really early on, like day one, my lawyers were acting on my behalf," she stated, as per The Independent.
The controversy stemmed from Gunn's performance at the 2024 Paris Olympics, where breakdancing made its debut as an Olympic sport. Gunn went viral on social media for her atypical movements during the competition, including the "kangaroo hop" and pushing herself in a circle on the floor, but she failed to get a point from the judges. Clips of her performance circulated the internet, leading to her becoming a meme.
The widespread mockery and criticism led Gunn to announce her retirement from breakdancing in November. The backlash was so overwhelming that she issued an apology to the breakdancing community in Australia, as reported by The Age. She stated, "I have the utmost respect for Indigenous Australians," addressing concerns about her routine's resemblance to Aboriginal dance.
Inspired by Gunn's story, Broadbridge created the musical to focus on Gunn's resilience and passion. "This was supposed to be my attempt to make you feel like the icon I believe you can be in Australia. I just wanted to give you support. If you've felt any negativity, I'm very sorry," Broadbridge said.
Broadbridge remains optimistic about the project's future under its new title. The show aims to deliver a "playful" reflection on "the entertainment industry, the cult of celebrity, sport, and popular culture," as noted by BFMTV.
Legal experts have commented on the dispute, suggesting that Gunn may not be able to enforce intellectual property rights over her name, persona, and dance moves. Authors Sarah Hook, Marie Hadley, and Vicki Huang wrote in the Law Society Journal that "even legal threats that are not well-founded may be enough to stop artists like Stephanie Broadbridge from taking risks," according to The Age.
Breakdancing was included as a discipline at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games but will not be featured in the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games. Gunn's experience has sparked conversations about artistic expression and legal boundaries within the entertainment industry.
This article was written in collaboration with generative AI company Alchemiq