Digital advertising company Yellow Room has issued a statement saying that rapper K.O does not own any rights to the repurposed video in collaboration with Gauteng Provincial Government!
However, rapper K.O has confirmed that he is considering the legal route after they “deliberately” used a suggestive caricature of the rapper as the “face” of the virus without prior seeking consent from the rapper.
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“Thanks, everyone for sharing your input and support regarding the repurposed clip that’s making the rounds on socials. The matter is now in the capable hands of our legal team. Much love,” wrote K.O.
On Monday MGOSI.co.za reported that a gatvol K.O, real name Ntokozo Mdluli took to social media after he took note of the Gauteng Provincial Government’s COVID-19 ad on Twitter, which warns South Africans about inviting friends for a hang-out, resulting in COVID-19 being present as an uninvited guest.
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“What is this?!? Deliberately using a suggestive caricature of myself (and my former Cashtime associates) in this fashion as the face of COVID – NO CONSENT?! A whole GP Government! How low and unscrupulous! I feel violated and extremely disrespected,” fumed K.O.
However, a statement issued by Yellow Room on the repurposed video for the Gauteng Provincial Government stated that on Sunday the GP Government distributed a video aimed at raising awareness on COVID-19 protocols in Gauteng on its social media platforms, including Twitter.
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“It has come to our attention that the protagonist in the abovementioned video is said to resemble a known South African artist (K.O). We have also noted claims about the video being owned by the said artist,” reads the statement released by Yellow Room.
Yellow Room further said that they wish to categorically state that the video was a passion product developed by Phaatoonz in 2015.
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“The video was not commissioned by any artist and thus the creators own 100& of the rights to the material,” reads the statement.
It is further said that in 2020 Yellow Room in collaboration with the creators repurposed the video for the Gauteng Provincial Government to raise awareness of the increasing surge of COVID-19 cases in Gauteng communities.
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“The video seeks to educate citizens of Gauteng on the importance of observing the COVID-19 protocols in an attempt to combat the spread of the virus,” concludes the statement by Yellow Room.
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CARICATURE:
A picture, description, or imitation of a person in which certain striking characteristics are exaggerated in order to create a comic or grotesque effect.
MGOSI.co.za