Borough Park "Rabbi" Sues Jimmy Kimmel Over YouTube Video Swipe

Talk show host Jimmy Kimmel swiped a YouTube video of a ranting Hasidic man and spliced it into a skit to poke fun at hoops superstar LeBron James without permission, according to a suit filed yesterday in Brooklyn Supreme Court.

Videos posted below article.

Joke's on Jimmy
Batty 'rabbi' in skit suit vs. Kimmel
By WILLIAM J. GORTA • New York Post

He may be funny, but talk-show host Jimmy Kimmel is no mensch.

Kimmel swiped a YouTube video of a ranting Hasidic man and spliced it into a skit to poke fun at hoops superstar LeBron James without permission, according to a suit filed yesterday in Brooklyn Supreme Court.

Dovid Sondik was featured in the YouTube video, titled the "Flying Rabbi," which shows the Borough Park man raving in Yiddish in the street.

In August, "Jimmy Kimmel Live" grabbed snippets of that video to pretend its host was getting advice from the man.

The bit spoofed James' recent sit-down with rabbi-to-the-stars Yishayahu Yosef Pinto.
NOT AMUSED: Borough Park Hasid Dovid Sondik (above) is suing Jimmy Kimmel, claiming the funnyman used a YouTube video of him without permission for a sketch on his show.
NOT AMUSED: Borough Park Hasid Dovid Sondik (above) is suing Jimmy Kimmel, claiming the funnyman used a YouTube video of him without permission for a sketch on his show.

"See, now it makes sense, LeBron went to Miami to become Jewish," Kimmel joked as he set up the spoof.

"Apparently, [Pinto is] a very high-paid consultant when it comes to business matters. One time, I actually consulted with the rabbi myself."

In the skit, Sondik is then seen hooting incoherently in Yiddish, framed to look as if he were talking to Kimmel through a car window.

Kimmel, who re-upped his contract with ABC yesterday for two years, pretends he's getting sage advice, saying, "Yeah, that's true," as Sondik continues his rant.

The scene cuts back and forth between them and the bit ends with Kimmel joking, "You know, it turned out he was right."

Sondik's lawyer, Robert Tolchin, said the man was just "goofing around" when he made the video and never meant it to be broadcast to Kimmel's 1.5 million viewers.

"It has caused me difficulty and pain," said Sondik, who, though not a rabbi, would speak of scripture to people in the neighborhood. "Now they think I'm a joke, a comedian."

The suit, seeking unspecified damages, accuses Kimmel of appropriation of likeness and violating YouTube's service terms.

A rep said Kimmel's people were unaware of the suit.

Here is the video Kimmel made, folowed by clips of David Sondik in action:

 

   

 

 

Comments

[Rabbi Pinto is a fraud]

The real life Rabbi Pinto is in a lot of trouble lately apparently. Numerous of his followers are alleging he is a fraud, he owns a $40 Million NYC buildign and just bought a $8 Million NYC building and even his 11 year old son wears a $20K rolex.

[Pinto beware of rabbi pinto of shuva israel]

Funny there are many who believe Pinto himself is being investigated by IRS and numerous government authorities. Pinto charges people a ton of money for what he deems advice, and pockets the money for himself. He's probably way richer than Lebron and Kimmel at this point. Pinto is a fraud and charlaton.

[Shmarya]

Posted by: Pinto beware of rabbi pinto of shuva israel | December 14, 2010 at 04:55 AM

"Rabbi Pinto is a fraud" and "Pinto beware of rabbi pinto of shuva israel" are the person.

I do not allow sockpuppeting.

Stick to one screen name or use your real name.

If you don't, I'll ban you and delete your comments.

[yidandahalf]

the 2nd video: a hybrid of OCD and Hitler.

[yidandahalf]

and in the 3rd he looks like Charles Manson during his raves. I don't think I dare go on to the rest of them.

[yidandahalf]

..."good lookin' women can also join the revolution..." Is that what he said? I had some good laughs to start the day anyway.

[Yochanan Lavie]

If you hit Rabbi Pinto from behind, does he explode?

[Mr. Apikoros]

Don't insult Ford by comparing its worst product ever to this POS.

I'll be willing to wager, however, that if you threw a bucket of water on him, he'd melt.

[Mr. Apikoros]

This guy is a rabbi like Father Guido Sarducci is a priest.

Pinto should be kissing Kimmel's tuchas in Saks Fifth Avenue's window for giving him his 15 minutes of infamy.

[Friar Yid]

Mr. Sondik bears an odd resemblance to Jack Van Impe (minus the beard, of course).

[Menachem Mendel lll]

YOUTUBE is in the "public domain."

This breaded Jewish bloodsucker wants to be a millionaire by scamming.

His pro bono case will result in fuck all for him and fuck all for his brilliant lawyer who is "defending" him except for the free advertising he will get as as a spin off.

[shlepper]

He should go to the people's court to Judy or Marilyn wearing his straps on his head and arms. He should also wear a Georgie sheitel on his head. He will at least get 250 and a good ribbing by the judge. He can spout his chabad, meshugassen to her. It will put their cult on the map which is all they want and who better than a meshuganner like him.

[Pinto]

I know many ppl in Manhattan that made millions of dollars with Rabbi Pinto's blessings

[yidandahalf]

Pinto as in pinto beans?

[WoolSilkCotton]

++Menachem Mendel lll | December 14, 2010 at 09:38 AM++

Agreed. Does every shmuck who puts some farkokte video on YouTube retain absolute rights to it? Of course not. It is copyrighted material? Highly unlikely.

And what damages did shmuckola suffer from being included in the Jimmy Kimmel joke?
"Now they think I'm a joke, a comedian." As if anyone's opinion of him changed.
And how many frumma in Boro Park watch the Jimmy Kimmel Show?

[WoolSilkCotton]

++yidandahalf | December 14, 2010 at 11:04 AM ++

Or is it pronounced like "bartender, I'll have a pint o' Guinness"? :)

[Mr. Apikoros]

WSC:

I am a twice-optioned screenwriter, in addition to my other, uh, talents.

Anything you write, is copyrighted, including your last two emails. What those emails probably aren't is registered in the Library of Congress.

Your second point is far more valid. What damages did Schmuckola suffer? The answer: Zero. In fact, it gave him his 15 minutes of fame. Schmuckola should take advantage of it.

[yidandahalf]

The Tandoori Bread sign added a bit of pathos to his shtick.
Ohohohoho Yoi bai...can anyone translate this?
Now I want to meet him and have my cousins wash his shirts. Perhaps they can also see to some beard whitening for him. He is so menschlich and down to earth; hoarse from singing holy verses.

[Aussie]

Jimmy Kimmel is a legend....The Man show is one of the funniest ever....))

[shimon baum]

That rabbi looks scary as hell from that video.

[WoolSilkCotton]

He is obviously a mentally ill baal tshuvah, no doubt on welfare or disability, but pretty savvy as an entertainer.

Obviously not a rabbi, just an asshole looking for his 15 minutes, now trying to cash in.

[Chicago Sam]

Chabad should make this man the NEXT Lubavitcher Rebbe!!

[Nobody]

Reminds me of my step father.
He looked devout on the outside, but behind closed doors, his only pleasure in life was beating children. Made him feel like a big man.

When you see someone this devout, doing something like this, make no mistake. They're hiding something. Something bad. Otherwise, they wouldn't need to do it.

They have to look devout. Otherwise, they're suspected of being the scum sucking wretches of indecency and abuse that they are