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Knievel, Kanye Iron Out Legal Differences
Motorcycle Daredevil Sued Rapper Over 'Touch The Sky' Video
POSTED: 10:07 am EST November 28,
2007
UPDATED: 10:53 am EST November 28,
2007
Motorcycle daredevil Evel Knievel and rap star Kanye West have worked out their legal differences over images in a 2006 music video.Knievel said that he and West met one-on-one at his Clearwater, Fla., condominium recently. They settled a federal lawsuit over the use of Knievel's trademarked image in a popular West music video.At issue was West's 2006 "Touch The Sky" video, where rapper takes on the persona of "Evel Kanyevil" and tries to jump a rocket-powered motorcycle over a canyon.Knievel made a similar attempt with his rocket jump over the Snake River Canyon in western Wyoming in 1974, but failed.West's lawyers said the video was a satire, and as such, is covered under the First Amendment.Knievel also claimed West's image as a rapper diminished his own reputation, and called it "vulgar and offensive."But the daredevil, 69, has changed his tune, now that he has met the 30-year-old rapper.Knievel called West a "wonderful guy and quite a gentleman," and even expressed concern about the recent death of West's mother.Terms of the settlement were not revealed.Knievel is famous for several motorcycle stunts, including a famous jump over the fountains at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas in 1969 that ended in a crash that left him with multiple fractures.He is also the father of motorcycle daredevil Robbie Knievel.
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