American Idol" winner Ruben Studdard is suing Alabama clothing maker

the smoking gun ^ | 8.1.03 | smoking gun

[freepatriot32]

AUGUST 1--Oversized "American Idol" winner Ruben Studdard is suing the Alabama clothing maker who once supplied him with those colorful "205" jerseys--size XXXXXXXXL--he wore on the Fox TV talent show. In a lawsuit filed Wednesday in Jefferson County Circuit Court, the corpulent crooner claims that 205 Flava, Inc., the Birmingham couturier, is improperly using images of the swollen singer to move its merch via its web site. The two-ton troubadour is seeking a court injunction against the firm, which the elephantine entertainer estimates to have earned north of $2 million by exploiting his image. The sweaty Studdard, currently headlining the "Pop-Tarts Presents American Idols Live Tour," opted for more fashionable clothing as he advanced through the Fox competition, leaving his damp 205 jerseys behind. Below you'll find a key excerpt from Studdard's complaint.

[freepatriot32]

you ll have to clck the link to view full story to see the exerpts from the complaint

[mhking]

Black conservative ping

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[breakem]

I thought 205 WAS the shirt size.

[HELLRAISER II]

8XL? Man that boy is big, I hate it that I wear a 2-3XLT. If he's really that big he's got to be pushing 500 lbs, which doesn't really suprise me because I followed the show and he definately was big. The truth of the matter about his fame is that Clay should've won, he is twice the singer that Reuben is but he's only an 1/8 of the body weight.

[bedolido]

I have nothing to say on this matter... I probably shouldn't have said "I have nothing to say on this matter"... however, it is important. This incredibly obese blackman with a semi-decent voice (really not that bad) who should be trying to keep his blood-pressure in check so he'll reach 40, needs to get back to his life.

[HELLRAISER II]

I say if he doesn't lose some weight he'll be lucky to reach 30.

[RMDupree]

I voted for Clay, but the ad hominem attacks towards Ruben in this article are disgusting! They used every unpleasant adjective they could think of. That is wrong.

[breakem]

whatever, maybe you will stop watching when they start the new seasom. That limey bastard is one of the hottest properties on TV and I think he'll be back.

[breakem]

Since you don't watch why share an uninformed opinion? BTW the host is an American. He is a DJ on LA radio. The limey bastard is one of three judges.

[Howlin]

Exactly what explains YOUR presence on this thread then, if you are so above it all?

[Constitution Day]

frantic ping!!!

[Chancellor Palpatine]

Ohmigod - the horror of it all.

Somebody needs to FReep Bush on this....

[mel]

Well, at least it is better than all these gay sex so called comedies. at least you are not embarassed it a kid comes into the room... Sometimes after a day's work I need mindless entertainment that doesn't aggravate the hell out of me. After there are only so many shows of Animal Precinct, Animal Cops and Pet Psychic.

[Hodar]

He put himself in the national spotlight, and should expect as much.

He put himself in the national spotlight, so what? So does Madonna, Sting, Jerry Springer, Brittany Spears, Jennifer Lopez, Arnold Schwartzenegger, Mel Gibson and every other celebrity under the sun. Go ahead and market YOUR product using their likeness without thier permission, and see how long you remain in business. No one may use another's likeness for a commercial adventure without explicit permission to do so. Sometimes money is involved in the contract, sometimes it's simply volunteered. But permission needs to be granted. It's pretty much the law. I can not take your picture and use it to market swimsuits (regardless how good, or bad you may look in it) UNLESS you sign a contract allowing me to do this. Whether you were on TV, radio or newsprint is immaterial; as is the weight of the plaintiff.

[GSWarrior]

Alliteration alert.