Judge Dismisses George Santos’ Cameo Lawsuit Against Jimmy Kimmel

George Santos and Jimmy Kimmel’s legal dispute has officially come to an end.

A judge has dismissed Santos’ lawsuit against Kimmel, which alleged copyright infringement after Kimmel showcased Santos’ Cameo videos on “Jimmy Kimmel Live” without his permission. On Monday, the judge ruled that Kimmel’s use of the videos fell under fair use due to their role in political commentary and criticism, according to Entertainment Weekly.

In the ruling, the judge mentioned that a reasonable person would recognize that “Jimmy Kimmel Live” used the videos to critique Santos, a public figure recently expelled from Congress for alleged fraudulent activities, including exploiting a fraudulent contribution scheme for personal gain.

Kimmel obtained the videos from Santos on Cameo by creating fake profiles to place requests. Cameo is a platform where users can pay for personalized videos from celebrities. Santos started using the platform after being expelled from the House of Representatives following an ethics scandal involving dishonest behavior toward campaign donors and Congress, and misusing campaign funds for personal expenses. Santos has pleaded guilty to wire fraud and identity theft in the related fraud case.

In an episode of “Jimmy Kimmel Live,” Kimmel aired the videos in a segment called “Will Santos Say It?” The segment featured Kimmel’s team asking Santos to congratulate someone for cloning their dog, a schnauzer named Adolf, and another for winning a beef-eating contest.

Santos’ attorney has confirmed to Entertainment Weekly that they have already filed a notice of appeal following the judge’s decision.