In case you haven’t heard, Gizelle Bryant and Robyn Dixon are currently locked in a battle with self-proclaimed “Rap God,” Eminem. The iconic rapper asked the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) to deny a trademark application submitted by Robyn and Gizelle. They wanted to trademark the name of their podcast, Reasonably Shady.
Now, the Real Housewives of Potomac stars are growing tired. They claim Eminem is refusing to appear for a deposition. Gizelle and Robyn said his team told them it’d be “highly burdensome” for Eminem to have to appear. Instead, they supposedly suggested a rep for his company appear, as the attendee would have a “better understanding of the documents, marketing, and advertising.”
Gizelle and Robyn don’t want that to happen. They want Slim Shady to please stand up. And if not, they think he should move out of the way. A lawyer representing the pair said “an assertion of Mr. Mathers being too busy will not be enough to avoid having to sit for a deposition.” The legal rep pointed to Gizelle and Robyn finding time among their busy schedules to sit for deposition, and suggested Eminem “extend the same courtesy for his obligation.”
Gizelle and Robyn vs. Eminem
According to official documents obtained by RadarOnline, the USPTO have suspended proceedings in the case brought by Eminem, until a decision is made on Gizelle and Robyn’s motion. This means that the rapper could indeed be forced to sit for a deposition in the Shady trademark case.
In opposing the Reasonably Shady trademark filing, Eminem claimed he’d used the Shady and Slim Shady monikers since 1996. He argued he had spent a lot of time, effort, and money building Shady into a business. Slim also said that the name of the podcast could confuse his fans, making them believe he endorses it.
Eminem’s lawyer wrote that Reasonably Shady “suggests it represents the service of [Marshall] Mathers.” They further suggested it was “likely” named purposely “to cause confusion and mistake and to deceive.”
The USPTO ruled the case to be paused until it decides on Eminem’s deposition.
Personally? I think he’s reaching. And I’ve been a fan for a long time. But this is a whole-ass mess. No Eminem fan worth their salt is gonna believe he endorses some Real Housewives podcast. He should let this one go.
TELL US – DO YOU THINK EMINEM HAS A POINT HERE? OR SHOULD GIZELLE AND ROBYN BE ALLOWED THE REASONABLY SHADY TRADEMARK?
