Beyoncé recently received a cease and desist letter from the lawyer representing James Dolan, the head of Madison Square Garden, regarding her new global concert tour. The issue arose when a video from her concert in Los Angeles was shared online, showcasing a massive image of her towering over the Las Vegas skyline.
Kathleen McCarthy, from the law firm King & Spalding, representing Dolan’s Sphere Entertainment Group, accused Beyoncé of misusing and manipulating images of their venue without permission. She noted that the video, which included her in a way that exaggerated her size compared to the Sphere, misrepresented the venue’s appearance.
The Sphere is pushing back, stating that Beyoncé has never been to their venue and claiming her portrayal was “unacceptable” and misusing their intellectual property. They expressed concerns that this could lead to speculation about her ending the tour with a residency at the Sphere, which they found problematic.
McCarthy highlighted that the video incorrectly depicted the venue and demanded that Beyoncé cease using these images in her materials by Monday. If she doesn’t comply, the Sphere said they would consider further action without notice. They also requested that she stop using the venue’s image in any merchandise or promotions related to her tour.
Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter Tour kicked off last week in Inglewood, California, with plans to hit major cities like Chicago, Houston, New York, and London before wrapping up in Las Vegas with two shows in late July. There’s been talk that she had previously attempted to negotiate a residency at the Sphere, but those discussions fell through last year due to venue logistical issues.
Additionally, there are rumors that Beyoncé might be looking into a new deal involving up to 100 shows with the MGM, as she faces challenges with ticket sales for her current tour. The Ticketmaster site has shown availability for her upcoming performance in Las Vegas, raising eyebrows as the concert date approaches. The request for comments from Beyoncé remains unanswered.
