By: Natasha Archary
South African rapper K.O is reportedly suing Gauteng Premier, David Makhura and two production houses for R5 million.
This after K.O was used in a Covid-19 awareness video which depicted the rapper as the virus.
Filing a defamation of character lawsuit, “Mr Cashtime” as K.O is popularly known says the video was created without his permission and paints him in a negative light.
As a result, both Benya Media and Digital Characters are also going to be served with the lawsuit.
According to reports, the original video was titled, “Witness the return of the mischievous K.O as he is reunited with his arch-nemesis.”
K.O says even if he was approached for permission David Makhura would not have received it.
“It is not in the public interest for me to be made the face of a virus that has caused economic and social hardship across the globe.
I feel insulted, and find the video degrading, humiliating and insulting and it paints me in a bad light and does not reflect the true state of affairs.”
Meanwhile, in a statement the Gauteng Government says it is aware that the protagonist depicted resembles the well-known South African artist.
The video is said to have been commissioned by Phaatoonz in 2015 and states that the video creators own the rights 100%.
