The Fresh Prince’s Alfonso Ribeiro Is Suing Epic Games


Epic Games has been threatened with legal action over the use of its in-game dances known as emotes before now, but now a very familiar face is taking the company on.

Alfonso Ribeiro, known for playing the role of the iconic Carlton in the 1990s hit sitcom, The Fresh Prince Of Bel Air is reportedly suing Epic Games.

Credit: Epic Games

Ribeiro is also now widely recognised for winning the 19th season of Dancing With The Stars, but the moves he’s most famous for come from his role as Carlton Banks.

Known as “The Carlton Dance,” Ribeiro’s signature dance is known the world over, and a suspiciously similar dance in Epic Game’s Fortnite has had tongues wagging for a while.

According to TMZ, the star is now suing Epic – as well as 2K games who’s used the dance in its basketball series – as he tries to copyright the moves.

Speaking to TMZ, Ribeiro’s lawyer stated: “It is widely recognized that Mr. Ribeiro’s likeness and intellectual property have been misappropriated by Epic Games in the most popular video game currently in the world, Fortnite,

“Epic has earned record profits off of downloadable content in the game, including emotes like ‘Fresh.’ Yet Epic has failed to compensate or even ask permission from Mr. Ribeiro for the use of his likeness and iconic intellectual property.”

Credit: Epic Games

He’s not the first person to challenge Epic Games on its use of well-known dances as emotes in the game.

Rapper 2 Milly is also officially taking legal action against Epic Games

2 Milly is pretty p*ssed that his signature dance move, the ‘Milly Rock’ appears in the game – without his permission – and his lawyers have released a statement about his intentions to pursue legal actions.

The statement reads: “This isn’t the first time that Epic Games has brazenly misappropriated the likeness of African-American talent.
Credit: 2 Milly

“Our client Lenwood ‘Skip’ Hamilton is pursuing similar claims against Epic for use of his likeness in the popular ‘Cole Train’ character in the Gears of Wars video game franchise.

“Epic cannot be allowed to continue to take what does not belong to it.”

The rapper himself also added: “I was never compensated by Epic Games for their use of the ‘Milly Rock.’ They never even asked for my permission. I am thrilled to have David Hecht and his team at Pierce Bainbridge representing me to help right this wrong.”

Earlier this year, 2 Milly told CBS News: “Everybody was just like, ‘Yo, your dance is in the game.’”

Known as the Swipe It Emote in Fortnite, the dance is causing controversy for the rapper, because it’s an emote that Epic Games sells for around $5.

What do you think about the use of emotes in the game?