Article in the National Enquirer – January 11, 2000

National Enquirer
January 11, 2000

Uri Geller suing Pokemon for $100 million

 FAMED psychic Uri Geller plans to file a $100 million lawsuit against kids’ craze Pokemon – claiming the cards have transformed him into an evil monster!

Geller was shocked to discover that one of the figures on the cards collected by millions of kids around the world is called “Ungeller,” a wicked psychic sprite who is shown bending spoons just like Uri.

“It made me so angry,” Uri declared in an exclusive ENQUIRER interview.

“There are Pokemon good monsters and bad monsters – and they’ve turned me into one of the bad guys.”

Uri found out about the Ungeller figure when he visited a Pokemon shop in Tokyo while filming a millennium special.

“I was mobbed by hundreds of people outside chanting ‘Ungeller, Ungeller.’

“I just thought they were shouting,’Uri Geller.’

“Then the daughter of my Japanese agent showed me a Pokemon Ungeller card and sald,’This is your card.’ I was astonished.

“I’m planning to sue them not so much because they’ve taken my name and image – and my ability to bend spoons – without permission, but more because they’ve twisted it all around. Now a generation of kids will think I’m evil!”

While the Geller monster is called “Alakazam” on the English-language Pokemon cards, fans in the U.S. also collect the Japanese cards – and they sell for as much as $32 apiece.

– JOHN COOKE