Sociabl removes celebs from app, will take legal action against Channel 9

21-year-old Brandon Reynolds, who created the video chat app Sociabl, has called out Channel 9 for its “defamatory reports” on yesterday’s Today Show.

In a lengthy statement posted online Reynolds said his interview with Today co-host David Campbell – where Campbell addressed the fact Sociabl used the name and likeness of certain celebrities without their permission – portrayed him in a defamatory light.

“I answered all of David’s questions truthfully and to best of my ability under the circumstances,” reads the statement. “The Nine Network then took that 25 minutes of in-depth interview, and turned it into a 3-minute shocker portraying myself, Sociabl and others in a completely false, misleading and defamatory light.”

Brandon Reynolds

As reported in TMN yesterday, advertised artists on Sociabl Jimmy Barnes and Reece Mastin, told this publication (via label representatives) that they were not affiliated with the app.

"These people have completely lied about my involvement," read Barnes’ statement to TMN. "I think they’re just using my name to try to fool people into buying a dodgy product. It’s wrong and I have nothing to do with it. If the people behind this don’t stop putting these stories out there then I’ll have to make them stop.”

However, in his statement Reynolds said: “Sociabl received expressed permission to display David Campbell, Jimmy Barnes and Reece Mastin on the Sociabl app from CEO of the Social Family Group, Jake Challenor. The claim that we did not have permission to place those names on Sociabl is defamatory and false.”

TMN has since spoken with Challenor who said while Social Family won’t be taking legal action against Sociabl, at no point did he enter a working relationship with the app’s team.

"I was alerted to the fact that Sociabl were listing Reece and David following a call from a Today Show producer last week. It’s my understanding that both have now been removed," Challenor told TMN.

"At no point did we give approval for Sociabl to list any artist for which we have a working relationship," he added. "This opportunity was one that initially sparked our interest, but we had not yet had a chance to review in detail over the Christmas break, or discuss with the artists. All of this was communicated to their Talent Manager, Monica Lam. And it goes without saying that unless there is a written and signed agreement in place between Sociabl and the artist, then it’s obviously ’no deal’.

"In light of all this, we will understandably not be presenting Sociabl to any artists we work with moving forward."

Reynolds’ statement also addresses the email sent by will.iam’s US manager Polo Molina, who told Channel 9: “I don’t think this in something Will’s involved in.”

“Sociabl is infact working with Will.i.am through Polo Molina & Justin J. Garza — in direct contradiction to claims made by the program,” said Reynolds. “We began talking with Will and his team back in August (see email below). Will.i.am has even invited us to join him in Los Angeles in next month at the incredibly private TRANS4M event he throws annually.” 

Reynolds posted the below screen shots from his email account:

The statement also includes a copy of a congratulatory message from Opposition Leader Bill Shorten, who previously denied involvement in the app’s launch.

Reynolds told TMN he and fellow creator Jarrad Hrotek will be taking legal steps over the alleged "defamatory" claims made by The Today Show. For now though, he’s removed all celebrities from the app. 

“All our client’s have been removed from the app in light of recent negative press,” he told TMN. “The app, and all of our active clients will be reinstated once we decide that outstanding issues have been resolved.”

Reynolds has told Mashable Australia that Sociabl would be ending its relationship with Sydney-based publicist/tour promoter Max Markson: "I have not fired him as of yet, but I can imagine we’ll be parting ways."