Sesame Street has taken legal action over the obscene new puppet movie The Happytime Murders.
The producers of the children’s TV show, filed a lawsuit in federal court in New York on Thursday, claiming that the promotion of the R-rated film makes unauthorized use of the Sesame Street mark with the tagline, No Sesame. All Street.
Sesame Workshop say it is not made clear in the trailer and in promotional social media posts that they were not involved in the movie, which features puppet characters snorting drugs, committing murder, working as prostitutes, swearing, gambling and engaging in obscene sex scenes.
Misbehaving puppets: Sesame Street has taken legal action over obscene new puppet movie The Happytime Murders… claiming it causes ‘irreparable injury’ to brand
The lawsuit stated, as reported by TheWrap: ‘Defendants’ widely-distributed marketing campaign features a just-released trailer with explicit, profane, drug-using, misogynistic, violent, copulating, and even ejaculating puppets, along with the tagline “NO SESAME. ALL STREET.”
‘Defendants do not own, control or have any right to use the SESAME STREET mark. Instead, they are distributing a trailer that deliberately confuses consumers into mistakenly believing that Sesame is associated with, has allowed, or has even endorsed or produced the movie and tarnishes Sesame’s brand.’
The suit goes on to state that if viewers believe Sesame Street was behind the R-Rated movie it will cause ‘irreparable injury to Sesame’s mark and brand.’
Sex scene: The R-rated murder-mystery is set in a world where humans and puppets co-exist, much like previous The Muppets movies
Specifically they state that they will lose the ability to ‘cultivate and maintain trust with its audience of parents and young children.’
‘Defendants threaten to inflict serious, irreparable damage to Sesame’s mark and brand by associating their adult movie with Sesame Street.’
Sesame Workshop is seeking a permanent injunction preventing the use of its trademark in connection with the films marketing. They also want unspecified damages.
Taking a stand: The film sees Melissa play a cop, who along with her puppet partner investigates when someone starts killing off the stars of a former hit TV show
Bad behaviour: Melissa’s character snorts drugs through a liquorice straw in one scene
The murder-mystery film in question is set in a world where humans and puppets co-exist, much like previous The Muppets movies and the show Sesame Street.
It is directed by Brian Henson, son of the late Jim Henson, who invented The Muppets.
But unlike films such as Muppet Treasure Island and The Muppet Christmas Carol, which were both also directed by Brian, this film is not affiliated with the official Muppets brand.
Murdering Muppets? The puppets are not affiliated with the official Muppets brand
Working it: A puppet buffs up on Santa Monica beach
The Happytime Murders sees Melissa play a cop, who along with her puppet partner investigates when someone starts killing off the stars of a former hit TV show.
Along with Melissa, the film co-stars Maya Rudolph, Joel McHale, and Elizabeth Banks.
It opens in the U.S. on August 17.
Not suitable for work: A strip club scene
Out of her league? A puppet-human couple