Gilbert Arenas' 'Basketball Wives' Lawsuit to Keep Ex off Show
Gilbert Arenas' Basketball Wives lawsuit has put a damper on the upcoming reality series, Basketball Wives: Los Angeles.
Arenas is a player for the Orlando Magic. He wants to prevent his ex-fiancée, Laura Govan, who is also the mother of his four children, from appearing on the reality series.
The lawsuit is alleging that Govan and her company, Shed Media US, is infringing on Arenas' trademark, is false advertising, and is a misappropriation of his likeness, reports The Washington Post.
Arenas also claims that Govan is simply trying to profit off their past relationship. Arenas asserts that the very fact that Govan is on a show titled "Basketball Wives" is a reference to their past relationship, reports the Courthouse News Service. Arenas also alleges that the show is deceptive and it might "mislead or confuse consumers that defendant Govan is either married to plaintiff and/or has special insight into plaintiff's current life," reports the ABA Journal.
Arenas' documents also note the odd particularity that many of the cast members on Basketball Wives are actually not even wives. Some are exes or are just dating a basketball star, according to the Courthouse News Service.
The lawsuit is seeking an injunction, a restraining order and statutory and punitive damages, reports the Courthouse News Service.
Actions involving misappropriation of name or likeness is usually something that comes up with celebrities. It is related to invasion of privacy, and is an allegation that their image or name has been used without their permission.
Whether or not Gilbert Arena's Basketball Wives lawsuit will succeed in its efforts to pull Govan off the show is unclear. But, it's not the show's first legal battle - Chris Bosh, Miami Heat star, recently filed a similar lawsuit against his ex Allison Mathis for similar reasons, reports The Washington Post.
Related Resources:
- NBA Star Sues to Keep Ex-Fiancee Off of 'Basketball Wives' Reality Show (ABA Journal)
- Invasion of Privacy (FindLaw)
- Chris Bosh Sued by Ex Over 'Basketball Wives' TV Deal (FindLaw's Tarnished Twenty)