Olympic Skater Denied ‘Minions’ Music Rights Days Before Games Start

Spanish athlete Tomas-Llorenc Guarino Sabate might need to discover a new tune to skate to at the Winter Olympics.

The 26-year-old determine skating champion, who’s making his Olympic debut in Milan, said he’s been told he can’t carry out his fan-favorite “Minions” routine after the music wasn’t cleared for copyright points. He’s skated to the sounds of the pint-sized brokers of chaos, while dressed of their signature uniform of a yellow shirt and blue overalls, throughout the season. He was informed on Friday that Universal Pictures, the studio behind the “Minions” movie franchise, didn’t grant him permission to make use of the pitchy, energetic tune. (Universal Pictures shares a guardian company with NBC, which airs the Olympics.)

“This season I have competed with my ‘Minions’ routine to bring joy and a fun style to the ice, while complying with all of the obligatory elements and demonstrating that ice skating as a male Olympic figure skater can also be fun,” he wrote in a prolonged assertion on his Instagram tales. Sabate famous that he “followed all required procedures and submitted my music through the ISU [International Skating Union] ClicknClear system back in August” and “competed with this program throughout the entire season.”

He continued, “Unfortunately, just days before the Olympic inauguration, I was informed that I am no longer permitted to use this program due to copyright clearance issues.”

Sabate has per week to discover a new tune for the brief program before the males’s event begins on Feb. 10. International Skating Union said in an announcement, “As soon as we have more details on this specific case, we will share them as appropriate.”

“I will face this challenge head-on and do everything I can to make the best of the situation,” he concluded. “I wish I had better news, but I’m grateful beyond words for your support this season. I promise to step on the ice with everything I have and deliver programs that both you and I can be proud of.”