lawsuit

Shirley Caesar Takes Legal Action Over the ‘U Name It Challenge’

National Museum of African American Music - NMAAM 2016 Black Music Honors - Arrivals
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In a sermon from 2010, Shirley Caesar was just trying to praise God. The pastor and gospel singer named her blessings, namely the “greens, beans, potatoes, tomatoes …” that populated her dinner table. In November, the internet turned that snippet into the viral Thanksgiving-themed “U Name It Challenge.” Now, Caesar is going to court over one request: Stop inserting sin into her sermon!

Caesar was fine with the Thanksgiving-themed viral video, but when an Atlanta DJ posted a rendition that included liquor, she was not thrilled. Caesar has now filed an injunction against DJ Suede for posting a “U Name It Challenge” video that put her sermon in a context that “violates the brand, image and name of a Christian pastor,” according to Atlanta’s CBS affiliateCaesar’s suit claims that DJ Suede’s for-profit mix overshadows a version of the challenge featuring Snoop Dogg, a remix that Caesar green-lit for charity. Her legal team told CBS that Suede’s video has resulted in more than $5 million in losses. “Snoop did his clean version to send the message that ‘This is Shirley Caesar,’” Caesar’s attorney said. “We need to honor her.”

The ‘U Name It Challenge’ Might Go to Court