Illusionist and magician Uri Geller sued Nintendo decades ago for using his likeness
Two decades ago, magician and illusionist Uri Geller sued Nintendo in a California court for its Kadabra Pokémon card, alleging the company used his likeness to create the character. You see, Geller is known for his spoon-bending trick, just like Kadabra. Now, Geller is apologizing for the lawsuit, in which he claimed Nintendo turned him into “an evil, occult Pokémon character,” and stole his identity “by using [his] name and [his] signature image,” according to a BBC story from 2000.
The California lawsuit was dismissed in 2003. He reportedly filed several other lawsuits globally, according to The Guardian.
“I am truly sorry for what I did 20 years ago,” Geller wrote on Twitter. “Kids and grownups I am releasing the ban. It’s now all up to Nintendo to bring my #kadabra #pokemon card back. It will probably be one of the rarest cards now! Much energy and love to all!”
I never realized how powerful and important it was for me to lift the ban on Yungeller/Kadabra, especially for all the kids around the world!
I’m sorry for what I did 20 years ago, but you can learn from mistakes even more than you can learn from success!#kadabra #pokemon pic.twitter.com/3YuxrUHzgq
— Uri Geller (@TheUriGeller) November 29, 2020
Later, he published a video where she sorted through a large suitcase full of Kadabra memorabilia, including cards in Japanese and English. (The Japanese card is called Yungeller, which is very close to Geller’s name.) He’s also got a number of figurines and toys stuffed away in that bag.
Geller told gaming website TheGamer that he received “tremendous” amounts of emails from Pokémon fans asking him to drop the case and allow Nintendo to bring back Kadabra. He added that Nintendo representatives “picked up” his letter.
The Pokémon Company told Polygon it “has nothing to share at this time” when asked about Geller and the reprinting of Kadabra cards. Maybe Nintendo will begin reprinting Kadabra cards, but maybe it won’t! Nintendo and The Pokémon Company do, at least, now have Geller’s blessing.
