The Miami Heat star Chris Bosh is suing the mother of his child for appearing on a reality television show called “Basketball Wives,” which...
Bosh claims in a lawsuit filed Monday in Los Angeles federal court that Allison Mathis and Shed Media are trying to unjustly enrich themselves by using Bosh’s name and intruding into his private affairs.
He acknowledges he and Mathis have a child together.
The suit says Mathis was hired to appear in the third season of the VH1 reality show and wants to use it to become a TV star. Bosh seeks damages and an injunction to block her and the media company from trademark infringement by using his name and disclosing private facts about his life.
First, the suit argues that the women who star on the show aren't actually wives of players, but rather women who have dated or divorced NBA players.
Bosh says that his ex is commercially exploiting his likeness and trademark and that Mathis' appearances on the show aren't protected under First Amendment rights.
"The use of Plaintiff's name by defendants is primarily commercial and not communicative," says the lawsuit. "Further the show, Basketball Wives, is not transformative, but rather the use, depiction or imitation of celebrity NBA basketball players, including Plaintiff, is the very sum and substance of the show."
Bosh is arguing that his consent was needed for the use of his name and likeness and that the show has "destroyed' the commercial value of his "life rights" and has intruded upon his private home life.
Bosh, currently playing in the second round of NBA playoffs, is seeking an injunction, disgorgement of profits and further damages.
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