Adam M. Key, a Regent University law student, says sthat the school may discipline or expel him over a picture that he posted on the internet showing Regent’s chancellor and president Pat Reobertson making what appears to be an obscene gesture. Key copied it from a YouTube video in which Robertson scratches his face with his middle finger.
Robertson said in a written statement the schol believes in”freedom of speech and expression, and that includes criticism or satire of the chancellor. However, we do not feel that freedom of speech encompasses the practice of the deliberate manipulation of television images to transform an innocent gesture into something obscene.” As public figure, Robertson is subject to parody. It is true that there are tort protections against misappropriation of commercial images and false light. However, celebrities are routinely subject to parody that are found protected.
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