Eminem has opposed two RHOP stars’ motion to get the rapper to appear in person for a deposition in connection to a trademark. It seems the real Slim Shady may not stand up in court.
The 51-year-old has requested a protective order against the two reality stars, from The Real Housewives of Potomac. Eminem is going against the two RHOP stars over their podcast ‘Reasonably Shady’. On February 14 last year, the rapper filed an opposition for the TV stars’ trademark application. He was concerned fans would become confused it was connected to himself, and “damage his brand”. But the latest update in the Eminem and RHOP case sees the star trying to avoid taking a deposition in person.
Eminem takes on RHOP stars over ‘Reasonably Shady’ podcast trademark
Eminem, real name Marshall Mathers III, has used alias Slim Shady since 1996. He had the term trademarked since the early 2000s, after he skyrocketed to fame.
In February 2023 he filed an opposition to Gizelle Bryant and Robyn Dixon’s trademark. They were applying for their podcast, which is called ‘Reasonably Shady’.
The Bravo stars filed the application with an intent to sell merchandise and products, for example, sweatshirts and water bottles.
The popular podcast from the Bravolebrities has more than five million downloads. But it hasn’t come without drama, as TV superstar Andy Cohen accused Dixon of purposefully sharing information about her husband’s infidelity on her own podcast, instead of the reality show she’s apart of. Both Bryant and Dixon have been on Bravo‘s RHOP since it’s debut in 2016.
But this also isn’t the first time since Eminem has had a legal fight over his alias and trademark, before RHOP there was another instance in 2021. He previously successfully opposed another application for a news site, which wanted to file an application for Slim Shady Politics.
‘Unduly burdensome’ for Eminem to appear in person
In the latest update in the Eminem and RHOP trademark case, the rapper opposed the request to appear in person for a deposition.
The star said it would be “unduly burdensome” for him, according to the filing seen by People, due to his “limited knowledge of the subjects at issues”.
The filing offered three other names, including his manager Paul Rosenberg. It said they have “superior knowledge to Mathers on the relevant topics”, and they would be able to appear in his absence.
The documents also alleged the motion filed by the reality stars was “premature and procedurally improper”, as Mathers has not ‘yet been served’ by Bryant and Robyn Dixon.
Bryant, 53, and Dixon’s, 44, attorney shared a statement following the news.
Andrea Evans said: “It seems obvious to us that if you file a lawsuit, you should be made available to be deposed.
She added the team would “like to question Mathers at least about his use of the expressions Slim Shady and Shady.”
“It’s unclear to us that Mathers can be the owner of the trademarks and file this suit against our clients but he will not make himself available to be deposed.”
‘Slim Shady is extremely valuable to Mathers’
His personal manager Rosenberg, who he has worked with since 1997, is willing to appear.
The documents also said Eminem “is removed from the daily activities and details that comprise the use and promotion of” of his Shady trademarks, despite being listed as the owner and signatory registrations.
When Eminem first opposed the trademark case from the RHOP stars, his filing spoke of what the mark meant to him.
The filing explained: “The marks Slim Shady and Shady have become and are an extremely valuable symbol of Mathers, his reputation and goodwill.”
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