Beano hits Rees-Mogg with a legal smackdown for impersonating Walter Brown
By Georgina Vincent on Wednesday, April 4, 2018
Kids entertainment brand The Beano has entered the world of politics.
Beano Studios have today issued Jacob Rees-Mogg with a ‘cease and desist letter’ firmly requesting that he stops impersonating Dennis and Gnasher’s nemesis Walter Brown – and landing coverage pretty much everywhere.
It’s come to our readers attention that @Jacob_Rees_Mogg has been masquerading as Beano character Walter Brown. A clear breach of our copyright. pic.twitter.com/voWQZ5VkPS
— Beano (@BeanoOfficial) April 4, 2018
From his side swept parting to his rounded spectacles there is no denying that the MP is a dead ringer for the beloved Beano character. However, according to the letter, his imitation of Walter does not end at simply aesthetic similarities.
In their letter, Beano Studios outline that Rees-Mogg has also copied their young Walter’s personality traits “to the benefit of enhancing [his] career and popularity”.
BBC news sent a news crew to his home in Somerset.
The letter reference’s Walter’s renowned “bullish” behaviour, love of classical music and generally observed snootiness.
Mike Stirling, Head of Beano Studios, Scotland said: “We were flattered when we discovered that Jacob Rees-Mogg has dedicated his life to impersonating one of my favourite Beano characters, young Walter. Nonetheless, as a hard-working British media company, we would prefer the public gets its Walter fix in the pages of our comics and on Beano.com , rather than played out on the political stage. In other words, bog off Rees-Mogg!”
Mr Rees-Mogg has said he was happy to be compared to Walter the Softy. He wrote on Twitter: ‘I am flattered to be accused by the Beano’s legal eagles of imitating Walter the Softy whose powerful physical prowess is so much greater than my own.
Some great Twitter ensued…
imagine trying to live even one second of your life again after being bantered thru the floor by the fuckin beano
— joel golby (@joelgolby) April 4, 2018
Trolling of Olympic standard by The Beano. https://t.co/QKnatyyLAh
— fleetstreetfox (@fleetstreetfox) April 4, 2018
On this day in 2018, Jacob Rees-Mogg was pummelled by The Beano https://t.co/mzMk72n5X1
— Letters of Note (@LettersOfNote) April 4, 2018