Post Malone is dealing with a brand new lawsuit, this time from a limousine driver who says he was utilized in one in every of Post’s music movies however by no means paid a dime for his look.
According to a criticism filed Friday (Oct. 17) in Utah’s Fourth District Court, Larry Deuel, a trainer and part-time chauffeur, claims Post Malone and rapper Tyla Yaweh recruited him to seem within the 2020 music video for his or her observe “Tommy Lee.” Deuel alleges the artists contacted his employer to rent him for transportation providers to Malone’s ranch, the place the video was being filmed.
Once he arrived, Deuel says issues took a flip. He claims Post and Tyla requested him to step in entrance of the digicam and be a part of the shoot, telling him he can be “taken care of” for his time. Deuel agreed, believing that meant he can be financially compensated.
He ended up being featured prominently within the video, unrolling a carpet, opening automobile doorways and standing beside his limo in a number of scenes. The lawsuit claims Deuel’s function was “critical” in portraying the video’s theme of wealth, energy and celeb privilege, visually elevating Post Malone and Tyla Yaweh’s larger-than-life personas. But regardless of what he says had been verbal guarantees, Deuel claims he was by no means paid something for his efficiency.
In the lawsuit, Deuel argues he by no means signed a launch granting Post Malone or Tyla Yaweh the rights to make use of his title, picture and likeness within the video. The video was launched commercially and surpassed 97 million views on YouTube, amassing lots of of tens of millions extra streams throughout Spotify, Apple Music, SoundCloud, and Amazon, in response to the criticism.
Deuel is suing each artists for fraudulent inducement, misappropriation of title and likeness, breach of contract, unjust enrichment and different associated claims. He is looking for $10 million in damages, together with punitive damages and revenue disgorgement, in response to the lawsuit. The criticism additionally alleges Deuel tried for 5 years to resolve the dispute privately.
It contains makes an attempt to contact Sony, Better Noise Music, Post Malone’s administration, and Post Malone himself, relationship again to 2020. In August 2025, Deuel says a authorized letter delivered to Post Malone’s Utah dwelling was laughed at by Post’s safety, who refused to just accept service. Neither Post Malone nor Tyla Yaweh has publicly responded to the lawsuit as of but.
“Tommy Lee” was launched in June 2020 and have become a success for Post Malone and Tyla Yaweh, peaking at No. 65 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and producing important on-line buzz.