Expelled Ex-GOP Rep. George Santos Sues Jimmy Kimmel For $750,000 Over Use Of His Cameo Clips

Expelled former Rep. George Santos (R-New York) is suing television host Jimmy Kimmel over the use of his Cameo clips.

Cameo is an online platform where users, typically well-known public figures, are paid to produce videos by fans to say something on camera. According to Santos, Kimmel paid Santos to make dozens of videos without knowing they would be featured on his talk show. The claim was stated in a complaint filed on Saturday to the Manhattan federal court.

Santos was unaware that the videos, priced at $500 each, were requested by Kimmel who allegedly used an alias. The suit against Kimmel cites violations of Cameo’s terms of service, Santos’ copyright and potential fraud.

In December 2023, Santos was removed from the House of Representatives after a scathing ethics report found that he had spent campaign money on personal luxuries including OnlyFans, Hermes clothing and Botox. Since then, Santos has used social media to promote his image and become a public figure, including through Cameo.

Many aspects of Santos’ resume before he was elected to Congress were fabricated, according to journalists who investigated his past. The former representative has been indicted on a number of federal charges and is facing a criminal trial later this year.

Kimmel claimed it would be ironic to be sued for fraud by Santos, saying it was a “dream come true.” Santos now seeks $750,000 in damages from Kimmel, ABC and Disney.