Illusionist/Magician Uri Geller Is Ending His Ban on Kadabara 'Pokémon' Cards
After suing the franchise for using his likeness 20 years ago.
For those that didn’t know, first-generation Pokémon Kadabra was banned from being included in the Pokémon Trading Card Game for 20 years thanks to Uri Geller.
Following its introduction in the Gen-I Japanese debut of Pokémon in 1996 and English port in 1998, the famed Israeli-British illusionist/magician and self-proclaimed psychic took legal action for using his likeness for the Psychic-type Pokémon in the year 2000. Filing a lawsuit with the Los Angeles Federal Court against Nintendo, demanding a cease to using his likeness and substantial general and punitive damages.
Geller noted that Kadabara known as Yungera in Japanese is named closely to his name rendered in Japanese, “Yuri Gera.” Additionally, the Psychic-type Pokémon regularly depicted holding a spoon which he believed referenced his spoon-bending act where he manipulates the metal utensils with just the power of his mind. The magic figure stated, “Nintendo turned me into an evil, occult Pokémon character. Nintendo stole my identity by using my name and my signature image.”
But after 20 long years, Geller has now changed his tune ending his conflict with the franchise. But it is interesting to note that the lawsuit never made it to trial because Geller falsely sued Nintendo and not Media Factory, the actual producer of the trading card game. But despite the wrongful lawsuit, Media Factory voluntarily stopped printing Kadabara/Yungera cards after its initial inclusion in the inaugural Pokémon Trading Card Game back in the late ’90s.
I am truly sorry for what I did 20 years ago. Kids and grownups I am releasing the ban. It’s now all up to #Nintendo to bring my #kadabra #pokemon card back.
It will probably be one of the rarest cards now! Much energy and love to all!https://t.co/Rv1aJFlIKS pic.twitter.com/5zDMX5S8WA— Uri Geller (@TheUriGeller) November 28, 2020
I never realized how powerful and important it was for me to lift the ban on Yungeller/Kadabra, especially for all the kids around the world!
I’m sorry for what I did 20 years ago, but you can learn from mistakes even more than you can learn from success!#kadabra #pokemon pic.twitter.com/3YuxrUHzgq
— Uri Geller (@TheUriGeller) November 29, 2020
In case you missed it, you probably shouldn’t throw this $100 USD official die-cast Poké Ball.
