Johnny Knoxville, ABC, & Jimmy Kimmel’s Production Banner Zapped With $3M Suit From Tasered ‘Prank Panel’ Producer

Dominic Patten
·4 min read
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Less than a year after The Prank Panel debuted on ABC, star Johnny Knoxville is getting a shock that some jokes are just not so funny.

Not funny, and potentially quite expensive, to be clear.

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The Jackass vet (real name Philip John Clap), ABC Signature Studios, ITV America, Jimmy Kimmel’s Kimmelot shingle and others involved with the unscripted comedy series Prank Panel have been zapped with a $3 million negligence and battery lawsuit (read it here) from self-described “segment producer and creative consultant” Daniel Curry.

Seeking a jury trial, Dumb Ideas co-author Curry’s May 16 filing from Martorell Law in LA Superior Court lays out the taser attack the ex-segment producer says he was subjected to back in September 2022 on the Prank Panel set at Saticoy Studios in Van Nuys, CA. The 28-page document also specifically details the “compensatory and general damages in the amount of $950,000; For special and incidental damages in the amount of $300,000” and $1,750,000 sought “for loss of earnings, including future loss of earnings” that Curry wants.

if the compensation is specific, Curry doesn’t leave much to the imagination about what he says went down either:

JOHNNY KNOXVILLE tased PLAINTIFF on his side as they both ran full speed, resulting in PLAINTIFF’s body freezing, losing all motor skills, and collapsing with his entire body in a rigid and tense state, Curry says of the alleged attack on September 2022 on the Prank Panel set at Saticoy Studios in Van Nuys, CA.

This unprovoked action by JOHNNY KNOXVILLE caused a break in PLAINTIFF’s fibula as well as a torn ankle ligament, both injuries occurring to his left leg. For the next two and half months, PLAINTIFF was bound to crutches, a leg scooter, and a boot, then another two months with an ankle brace. After that, PLAINTIFF moved on to six months of physical therapy, where amongst other things, he had to relearn to walk. 

This attack was unprompted, surprising, and inherently dangerous. There was no plan for PLAINTIFF to appear on camera and at no time was PLAINTIFF an active participant in any scenes. Rather, PLAINTIFF was an unsuspecting member of production who fell victim to JOHNNY KNOXVILLE’s inexplicable and inherently dangerous behavior.

First announced in November 2022, the Knoxville, Eric André and Gabourey Sidibe fronted trickster series premiered on ABC on May 24, 2023 for a nine-episode run.

Neither cancelled nor renewed and nowhere to be found on the Disney-owned network’s line-up this year, Prank Panel has suffered a number of self-inflicted injuries over its short life.. Handyman Khalil Khan sued in December 2022 over a Knoxville punking that he termed a “terrifying ordeal” in court papers. Additionally, there were a slew of reports that as is reinforced in Curry’s complaint, André walked off the show a number of times due to Knoxville’s antic – reports that are reinforced in Curry’s complaint, as is André’s apparent willingness to aid in sweeping under the corporate rug what happened to his former writing partner.

As well as alleging he was deliberately tasered by Knoxville on the Prank Panel set over a year and a half ago, Curry says not only was he injured by the incident, but the show and producers tried to cover it all up. A cover up that purportedly includes threatening texts from Knoxville himself and others stamping Curry down for speaking up. The cover-up also seems to include denying Curry access to footage of what happened between him and Knoxville.

“At least 25 people witnessed the incident in person,” the 12-claim complaint says.

“Another dozen or so witnessed the incident within the master control room, the majority of whom were ABC and ITV executives,” it adds “The incident was also captured on tape by a jib camera, which had maneuvered from the stage to ‘Video Village’ to track JOHNNY KNOXVILLE’s movements. Despite Plaintiff repeatedly requesting this video footage, access to the video footage has not been provided, despite months of communications. Therefore, Plaintiff has never seen video of the incident despite multiple requests for the video to be shared, leading to the necessity of the present lawsuit.”

Representatives of Knoxville and Disney-owned ABC Signature Studios did not respond to request for comment on Curry’s legal action and the allegations it contains. Kimmelot did not reply either. If and when any of the defendants do get back to us, this post will be updated – and that’s no prank.

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