'Sesame Street' sues makers of Melissa McCarthy puppet movie 'The Happytime Murders'

The Associated Press

Show Caption Hide Caption ‘Sesame Street’ sues creators of raunchy, new puppet film The makers of "Sesame Street" aren't happy with Melissa McCarthy’s new puppet movie, "The Happytime Murders." They’re taking the film's creators to court for tarnishing the reputation of their family-friendly puppets.

NEW YORK (AP) — The makers of Sesame Street are suing the creators of a new Melissa McCarthy movie, saying they're abusing the famed puppets' sterling reputation to promote the film.

A judge Friday scheduled a hearing next week to consider a request for immediate relief by Sesame Workshop, which sued Thursday in federal court for unspecified damages.

The film, The Happytime Murders, is scheduled for release Aug. 17. McCarthy plays a human detective who teams with a puppet partner to investigate grisly puppet murders.

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The lawsuit said the Sesame Street brand will be harmed by a just-released movie trailer featuring "explicit, profane, drug-using, misogynistic, violent, copulating and even ejaculating puppets" along with the tagline "NO SESAME. ALL STREET."

STX Productions LLC says in a statement it is confident in its legal position.