Weird Al Yankovic Is Defending His Good Name After Being Slumped With Lesser Al’s
Weird Al Yankovic Tweeted a pic of his trademark certificate today to hit out at anyone usurping the good name ‘Weird Al’ for punny criticism of other, shitty Al’s.
Al Yankovic has worked hard to build his brand as a parody master and won’t stand to see it dragged through the mud. He’s made it very clear that he’s not keen to see his trademarked name ‘Weird Al’ associated with the likes of Al Franken (especially), Al Pacino, Al Gore, Al Roker, just literally no. other. Al’s.
If you really feel compelled to insult Franken, Sharpton, Gore, Roker, or Pacino… PLEASE CHOOSE A DIFFERENT NICKNAME. pic.twitter.com/RTfTTQaWkE
— Al Yankovic (@alyankovic) November 20, 2017
‘Weird Al’ has been trademarked since ’85 but the comment from Yankovic was prompted by some headlines concerning Al Franken’s recent sexual assault and misconduct allegations, which describe Franken as ‘Weird Al’.
I posted my trademark application earlier today mostly as a joke (BTW, my name has been trademarked since 1985 – this was just a renewal). That wasn’t the point – the takeaway should have been that it’s extremely uncool to use my name in this kind of context… so, stop, maybe? pic.twitter.com/fq30fGReKO
— Al Yankovic (@alyankovic) November 21, 2017
@ArthurQ23441436 NEW Wierd Al Franken groping photo> View more> https://t.co/NZ0uu3VRIF pic.twitter.com/CvX89VeqvJ
— TRUMPSTERS (@PotusTrumpsters) November 17, 2017
Al Yankovic’s stiff reminder that ‘Weird Al’ is his brand and not fair game for your headline puns is pretty damn fair. Everyone’s responses to the trademark Tweet have been great content, especially the people who thought that the name was freshly trademarked.
Just to summarize for everyone who isn't Alfred Yankovic: you can be weird, or you can be Al, but you can't be both.
— Rex Ungericht (@Parodymandotcom) November 20, 2017
???????? #WeirdAl pic.twitter.com/bvNQE5thfg
— Rebecca I. Allen (@rebeccaallen) November 20, 2017
It's going to be hard for me to make the switch from "Weird" Al Yankovic to "Weird Al™" Yankovic
— Sebastian Payne (@Dynosoarz) November 20, 2017
If a copy of my home video of my ex naming my penis Weird Al ever emerges .. let it be known that that was made 10 years ago before said notice. *disclaimer* polka face is playing in the back ground..I do not hold the rights to that song either…
— Andy Ricketson (@atr469) November 21, 2017
Weird Al, we hear you man. You’ve gotta do what you’ve gotta do to protect that Weird Al empire.