Fresh Prince’ Star Alfonso Ribeiro Sues ‘Fortnite’ And ‘NBA 2K’ Creators Over Dance

Dances in the Epic and Take Two games seem inspired by the “Carlton dance.” Is it legal?

The electronic Goliath that is “Fortnite” ― a free, online third-person shooter game known mostly for its battle royale mode ― features an ever-updating array of weapons, environments and even dances, called “emotes.” 

But now one of those dances, called “Fresh,” is the subject of a lawsuit from actor Alfonso Ribeiro. Ribeiro played Carlton on the series “Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,” for which he famously created what pop culture has dubbed “The Carlton dance.

Ribeiro is suing both Epic Games, the creator of “Fortnite,” and Take-Two Interactive, the creator of the “NBA 2K” series, for including the dance in their games.

In court documents acquired by HuffPost, Ribeiro and his attorney claim the two companies “have unfairly profited from exploiting Ribeiro’s protected creative expression and likeness,” adding that the dance is “now inextricably linked to Ribeiro and has continued to be a part of his celebrity persona.”

It’s pretty clear that, at least in Fortnight’s case, the dance is inspired by the “Fresh Prince” character.