Mason accuses star of stealing gags

Jackie Mason has accused Robin Williams of stealing his gags.

He called in the lawyers after watching Williams's latest special, Live On Broadway, claiming some routines were his.

And attorney Raul Felder fired off a letter to American cable network HBO warning it not to repeat the offending show.

The 71-year-old comic claims that Williams ripped off routines about the war in Afghanistan, George W Bush and Tony Blair, airport security and dentists.

Felder wrote that Mason "is particularly angry because he writes his own material".

However, Williams's lawyer told New York Metro: "Robin Williams stole nothing from Jackie Mason. He stole nothing from anybody."

HBO says the situation has now been resolved, but declined to explain how.

Felder said Mason would not sue Williams over this - but would if he felt gags were stolen in the future.

Published: 22 Sep 2002