Axl Rose calls on Google to remove ‘fat meme’ image from internet

The singer has issued a Digital Millennium Copyright Act takedown notice
Angered: Axl Rose has demanded the image be removed from the internet
Hans Klaus Techt/AFP/Getty
Emma Powell8 June 2016
The Weekender

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Axl Rose has asked Google to remove a picture of himself from the internet which was dubbed ‘Fat Axl’.

The Guns N’ Roses frontman, 54, is trying to have the picture removed on the grounds of copyright and has issued a Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) takedown notice.

Rose argued that the picture, which was taken at the MTS Centre in Winnipeg, Canada, belongs to himself, not the photographer because he claims all photographers were required to sign a release form upon entering the concert which took place back in 2010.

Torrent Freak reported Rose has hired Web Sherriff to get the photo offline and later sent a notice to some sites.

The notice read: “Copyright image of Axl Rose. Please be advised that no permission has been granted to publish the copyright image so we cannot direct you to an authorized example of it.”

Photographer Boris Minkevich of the Winnipeg Free Press took the picture, but told Torrent Freak he does not remember signing a release form.

The image sparked a flurry of memes targeting Rose’s weight with one posted alongside the words: “Sweet piles of pie.”

Another read: “Take me down to the bakery city where the pies have cream and the cakes are tasty.”

Rose is currently on tour with AC/DC after stepping in to replace Brian Johnson who was told to pull out due to hearing problems.

Rose recenty opened up about stepping into Johnson's shoes and said he is finding the singing 'challenging'.

Speaking on BBC 6 Music, the iconic rocker said: “A lot of the Back in Black stuff is really challenging.

“I’m not here in any way out of any disrespect to Brian. I can’t take anything away from his singing at all.

“He’s a great singer and it’s really challenging to sing it. I’m just trying to do it justice for the fans.”

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