Screw Matchbox Twenty -- Sue the Activists!

Posted Apr 17th 2008 1:24PM by TMZ Staff

A booking company is pissed that Matchbox Twenty just pulled out of performing at Cheyenne Frontier Days -- which claims to be the world's biggest outdoor rodeo -- because of the "mistreatment of animals" at the event. So the company has decided to sue ... animal activists!?

Romeo Entertainment is claiming that animal activist group SHARK contacted agents for Matchbox Twenty -- and used "false and misleading information and the threat of negative publicity" to get the fading band to drop out of their July 18 performance.

This isn't the first time Romeo claims SHARK has bit them in the ass.

They claim SHARK was responsible for Carrie Underwood pulling out of the same event in July of 2006! Romeo is seeking close to $100,000 in damages for the alleged "unjustified and tortious" interference from SHARK and its president.

UPDATE: Currently, the lawsuit is not seeking damages from the entertainers involved -- but TMZ just spoke with R.J. Romeo, who said R.E.G.'s not ruling out taking legal action against Matchbox Twenty. R.J. says Romeo Entertainment Group officially found out MB20 had bailed out of the gig after questioning a press release sent out by SHARK -- which claimed the band was dunzo with the performance.

R.J. says the release came after Bob Romeo never received a response to a letter sent to MB20's agents -- which explained there was no rodeo events scheduled the day of the performance, and asked that the band keep up with their end of the deal.

Statement from SHARK: "Bring it on! We can't wait to see these guys in court. Matchbox Twenty did the right thing, and we did the right thing in contacting them. These guys (MB20) are real American heroes -- not like those phony cowboys."

Filed under: Music, Wacky and Weird, Celebrity Feuds

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(Page 1 of 3) | 1 | 2 | 3 | Most Recent | Next 15 Comments

1. First, er second perhaps. Third?

Posted at 1:46PM on Apr 17th 2008 by player hater; game hater

2. Well, whatdaya know? I have reached a pinnacle in my life by being a firster in TMZ's comment section. I must celebrate by maybe renting a porn in memory of Hugh's passing.

Posted at 1:50PM on Apr 17th 2008 by player hater; game hater

3. I am so sick of non-profit agencies using these "bully" tactics............they need to be stopped and someone needs to stand up and make them accountable!

Posted at 1:51PM on Apr 17th 2008 by Dallas

4. What is with the Hefner comments?

Posted at 1:52PM on Apr 17th 2008 by Dallas

5. Seems to me if Cheyenne Frontier Days was burned in the past by Carrie Underwood pulling out, then they should have learned a lesson and advised performers they wanted to book, "You know, this IS a rodeo, right? With roping and riding bulls? Maybe wrestling some ornery sheep? Bowlegged cowboys? Yippee-ki-yay and all that stuff?". Would have limited the chance of others backing out.

Posted at 2:14PM on Apr 17th 2008 by Will

6. Hey, I go to CFD every year and I've never seen any abuse. Sorry but Matchbox 20 isn't someone that we would want to see anyway. And after the stunt of pulling out of the concert, WE WOULDN'T WANT THEM HERE ANYWAY!

Posted at 3:27PM on Apr 17th 2008 by jrbb

7. The booking company must hope that the court will forget about the First Amendment? What a lame attempt to stifle free speech.

The REAL bullying that is going on here is not by activists, but by grown men dressing up is cowboy suits and beating the living hell out of animals for fun.

Posted at 4:04PM on Apr 17th 2008 by Steve Wilson

8. Wthout the use of spurs, tail-twisting, and bucking straps cinched tightly around their abdomen and groin, these frightened and often docile animals wouldn't even buck. They are terrorized into action when men shove electric prods into them, twist their necks, yank them by their tails or legs, slam them to the ground, or otherwise batter them. The fact that most of these innocent animals are eventually destined for the slaughterhouse in no way justifies compounding their agony along the way. Bulls and horses are tormented in the chutes prior to release into the ring. They are forced to wear bucking straps, and the rider uses spurs, which dig into the animals' flesh. One rodeo cowboy said of bucking straps and electric prods, "If you can't use those devices, then you have no rodeo." Steve Gander, organizer of the "World's Toughest Rodeo," admits that bucking horses and bulls are "prodded with an electrical hotshot."

Posted at 4:25PM on Apr 17th 2008 by Mati

9. Hurray for the animals.

Someone needs to make Hillbilly Heaven Rodeos accountable :))

Posted at 4:26PM on Apr 17th 2008 by niteskystar

10. Bullfighting IS animal cruelty. Duh...

Posted at 4:27PM on Apr 17th 2008 by Ummmmm

11. Good grief people, how about BEFORE you start criticizing rodeo, you actually attend one and see what it is all about? That is how this crap gets started in the first place. MOST of the stock contractors I know treat their animals with kid gloves. Their animals make them money, they can't afford to treat them badly. Think about it!!!! If their animals aren't healthy and can't perform, the contractors don't get paid. There are VERY HEFTY fines handed out if a contestant abuses the animal in any way. EDUCATE yourself about this sport before you try to comment on it.

Posted at 5:02PM on Apr 17th 2008 by Shaka

12. I thought they should have played. Rodeos pamper and are not cruel. I have been around them my whole life. Now the sport of "cow tippin" is cruel and I would totally support that cause. :)

Posted at 5:13PM on Apr 17th 2008 by Kelli

13. Regardless of how you feel about Rodeo's - a contract is a contract. If MB20 is so upset by Rodeo's, why agree to the concert in the first place? You can't sign a deal to play a Rodeo and then get mad that animals are going to be at that Rodeo. Everyone knows that animals are used in Rodeo's...once you sign the contract, you have to fulfill your obligation...it's not about 1st ammendment rights, it's about living up to your end of the signed agreement. And if you want to back out, you have to pay the consequences.

Posted at 5:18PM on Apr 17th 2008 by What

14. RODEOS ARE JUST ANOTHER MEANS TO EXPLOIT ANIMALS ALONG WITH CIRCUS AND ZOOS . MATCHBOX TWENTY PULLING OUT WON'T STOP THE ANIMAL ABUSE BUT BOYCOTTING THESE EVENTS HELP THE ANIMALS. I HOPE THE ANIMALS RIOT AND ATTACK THESE DUMBASS COWBOYS.

Posted at 5:48PM on Apr 17th 2008 by STORMY7

15. Glad to see those dogooders getting sued. Maybe it will teach them not to spread lies.
RO RODEO!

Posted at 6:07PM on Apr 17th 2008 by 1USA1

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