Musical About Raygun with Proceeds Going to Women's Shelter Called Off After Breakdancer’s Lawyers Sue

Mar. 15, 2025

Raygun.Photo:Harry Langer/DeFodi Images via Getty

Harry Langer/DeFodi Images via Getty

Raygunput the brakes on a would-be musical about her life.

The Australian breakdancer — real name Rachael Gunn —who became a global viral sensation due to her questionable dancing skillsrecently put a stop to a musical using her name and likeness mere hours before it was set to premiere, theAssociated Pressreported.

Broadbridge shared on social media that Gunn’s attorneys informed her that the poster used for the show had been trademarked and she was not allowed to use it, the AP said.

Raygun.Ezra Shaw/Getty

Ezra Shaw/Getty

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The comedian added that the attorneys said she would face legal action if she performed Gunn’s viral kangaroo dance because the Paris Olympian owns the rights to it.

Anthony Skinner, the show’s promoter and owner of Darlinghurst’s iD Comedy Club, where the musical was set to be performed, said they intended to give all proceeds to a women’s shelter.

In an update on Instagramregarding the show on Thursday, Dec. 19, Broadbridge shared a new poster removing any likeness to Gunn along with an updated title,Breaking: The Musical. A new tagline was also added that read, “A completely legal parody musical.”

The backlash and criticism on social media was immediate, prompting Gunn, 37, to call out the behavior.

“It is really sad to hear those criticisms and I am very sorry for the backlash that the community has experienced,” Gunn previouslytoldAustralia 10 News. “But I can’t control how people react.”

“It was really sad how much hate that it did evoke,” Gunn said. “And a lot of the responses is also just due to people not being very familiar with breaking and the diversity of approaches in breaking. The energy and vitriol that people had was pretty alarming.”

Gunn announced in November that she was retiring from breakdancing, but backtracked four days later, saying that her statement was taken out of context.

“I’m not retiring. You try and stop me. I’m not ever going to stop dancing. So if you hear that again, you know that it’s not the truth. You can’t retire from an art form. So that’s why I’m never going to stop,” she said.

source: people.com