Naked Cowboy

Last updated

Naked Cowboy
Naked Cowboy on Times Square.jpg
Born
Robert John Burck

(1970-12-23) December 23, 1970 (age 53)
Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.
Occupation(s)Singer, songwriter, writer, former political candidate, actor
Years active1998–present
Spouse(s)
Patricia Burck, The Naked Cowgirl
​
​
(m. 2013)​
Website nakedcowboy.com

Robert John Burck (born December 23, 1970), better known as the Naked Cowboy, is an American street performer, singer, songwriter, and occasional actor. He is best known for singing regularly in New York City's Times Square. [1] Burck is also a regular in the streets of the French Quarter during the New Orleans Mardi Gras season. [2] [3] He wears only cowboy boots, a hat, and white briefs, with a guitar strategically placed to give the illusion of nudity.

Contents

On October 6, 2010, Burck formally announced that he was running for President of the United States in the 2012 U.S. election as a candidate representing the U.S. Tea Party movement. [4] [5] [6]

Background

Burck was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, and attended Our Lady of the Rosary elementary school in nearby Greenhills, Ohio. He later earned a bachelor's degree in political science from the University of Cincinnati College of Arts and Sciences in 1995. [7] He began busking in December 1997, and first appeared on Venice Beach, Los Angeles. [7]

He is best known as a fixture of Times Square in New York City, where he has appeared almost daily since September 1999. [8] He made an appearance in Donnybrook, Dublin, Ireland, on January 25, 2009, where he performed his theme song "I'm the Naked Cowboy" at a Leinster Rugby game before 18,000 spectators. [9] In May 2014, Burck temporarily switched from his usual briefs to boxer briefs, after being sponsored by Fruit of the Loom. [10]

On November 11, 2020, while Burck was performing in New York in front of a few tourists, a person pulled down and ripped his briefs. [11]

Music

Burck has made appearances in three music videos, including Cake's "Short Skirt/Long Jacket", Tyler Hilton's "When It Comes", and Nickelback's "Rockstar". In 2007, Burck released an album of his own, signing to 4Sight Music Productions and recording the pop-rock album Year of the Cowboy produced by Lee Evans and producer Dante Lattanzi at JAMBOX Recording Studios in New York City. The album was featured on MTV News. [12]

Politics

On July 20, 2009, it was announced that Burck would challenge Mayor Michael Bloomberg in the 2009 New York City mayoral election. [13] [14] [15] In response, Jonny Porkpie, the self-proclaimed "burlesque Mayor of NYC" announced that he would run against him. [16] [17] On September 5, 2009, Burck withdrew from the race.

On September 29, 2010, he announced his intentions to challenge President Barack Obama in the 2012 presidential election. At his announcement, Burck stated that he has a "very conservative policy" and that he had an "unapologetic commitment to our borders, our language and our culture", borrowing a well-known catchphrase of radio host Michael Savage. He changed his appearance by wearing a dress suit and had his hair cut. [18] [19] [20] On October 6, 2010, Burck officially declared his presidential candidacy at a press conference in Times Square. [4] [5] [6] He stated that he was neither a Democrat nor a Republican, but rather "an American" and that he intended to lead the U.S. Tea Party movement into the Oval Office. [21]

Bloomberg referenced the Naked Cowboy during the tenth 2020 Democratic primary debate in Charleston, South Carolina, on February 25, 2020. When asked whether he would support expanding his signature soda ban policy nationwide, Bloomberg stated that what is right for one city is not necessarily right for every city, "otherwise every town would have a Naked Cowboy." [22]

According to The Wall Street Journal in December 2020, Burck is "a big Trump supporter." [23] He participated in a rally in Washington, D.C., prior to the storming of the United States Capitol on January 6, 2021. [24]

Infringement lawsuits filed

Mars Inc.

Mars, Incorporated created a short animation of the Blue M&M's character playing a guitar while dressed in a white cowboy hat, cowboy boots and underpants on the electronic animation display that hangs outside the M&M's store at Times Square. Burck, who owns registered trademarks to the Naked Cowboy name and likeness, filed a trademark infringement lawsuit against Mars Incorporated on February 15, 2008. [25]

Burck alleged that the ads infringe on his trademark by "using his likeness, persona, and image for commercial purposes without his written permission and by falsely suggesting that he endorses M&M's candy." [26] The Cowboy's lawsuit, filed in federal court in Manhattan, requested an injunction stopping Mars from using the Naked Cowboy's likeness to advertise M&M's products, up to $100 million in punitive damages, and attorney's fees. [27] On June 23, 2008, the court issued a decision that dismissed a portion of the suit relying on New York law but rejected a motion by the defendants to dismiss the trademark claims. [28] Burck and Mars Incorporated settled the lawsuit in November 2008, the terms of which were never disclosed. [29] [30]

CBS

Burck filed a trademark infringement lawsuit against CBS in February 2011, saying the network's use of a 'Naked Cowboy'–like figure in an ad for a television show demeaned his image with CBS's "drunk and sexually charged" portrayal of his likeness. [31]

Personal life

On February 15, 2013, Burck married Patricia Burck, a woman from Mexico City who was 25 at the time. Patricia is a professional belly dancer and group fitness instructor, is also a licensed Naked Cowgirl franchisee. [32] [33]

Burck is a resident of Queens. [34]

Arrest

On March 6, 2021, Burck was arrested in Daytona Beach, Florida, where he was appearing at Daytona Beach Bike Week. He was arrested on charges of panhandling and resisting an officer without violence, as his act violated Daytona Beach's panhandling policies. [35] [36] [37] After spending a night in jail, Burck entered a plea of no contest to the resisting an officer without violence charge. [38] [39]

Following his plea, the judge involved in Burck's case withheld adjudication on the resisting arrest charge, making it not appear as a conviction on his criminal record, dropped the panhandling charge, and sentenced Burck to time served. Following his release, Burck reportedly received a "hero's welcome" from attendees at Daytona Beach Bike Week after he returned and a local music store, along with Takamine, donated him a new acoustic guitar to replace the one that was damaged during his arrest. [38] [39] In May 2021, it was reported that Burck had asked a judge to allow him to withdraw his no contest plea and that his attorney sent a letter stating that he plans to sue the Daytona Beach Police Department over the arrest. [40] On July 20, 2022, Burck, having sued the city and the two arresting police officers, received a $90,000 settlement. [41]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Times Square</span> Intersection and area in Manhattan, New York

Times Square is a major commercial intersection, tourist destination, entertainment hub, and neighborhood in the Midtown Manhattan section of New York City. It is formed by the junction of Broadway, Seventh Avenue, and 42nd Street. Together with adjacent Duffy Square, Times Square is a bowtie-shaped plaza five blocks long between 42nd and 47th Streets.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael Bloomberg</span> American businessman and politician (born 1942)

Michael Rubens Bloomberg is an American businessman and politician. He is the majority owner and co-founder of Bloomberg L.P., and was its CEO from 1981 to 2001 and again from 2014 to 2023. He served as the mayor of New York City for three terms from 2002 to 2013 and was a candidate for the 2020 Democratic nomination for president of the United States. In 2024, Bloomberg received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Joe Biden. He has served as chair of the Defense Innovation Board, an independent advisory board that provides recommendations on artificial intelligence, software, data and digital modernization to the United States Department of Defense, since June 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Daytona Beach, Florida</span> City in Florida, United States

Daytona Beach is a coastal resort city in Volusia County, Florida, United States. Located on the East Coast of the United States, its population was 72,647 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Deltona–Daytona Beach–Ormond Beach metropolitan area, and is a principal city of the Fun Coast region of Florida.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">DeLand, Florida</span> City in Florida, United States

DeLand is a city in and the county seat of Volusia County, Florida, United States. The city sits approximately 34 miles (55 km) north of the central business district of Orlando, and approximately 23 miles (37 km) west of the central business district of Daytona Beach. It is a part of the Deltona–Daytona Beach–Ormond Beach metropolitan area. As of the 2020 U.S. census, the population was 37,351.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Transportation in New York City</span>

The transportation system of New York City is a network of complex infrastructural systems. New York City, being the most populous city in the United States, has a transportation system which includes one of the largest and busiest subway systems in the world; the world's first mechanically ventilated vehicular tunnel; and an aerial tramway. New York City is home to an extensive bus system in each of the five boroughs; citywide and Staten Island ferry systems; and numerous yellow taxis and boro taxis throughout the city. Private cars are less used compared to other cities in the rest of the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scott Stringer</span> American politician

Scott M. Stringer is an American politician who served as the 44th New York City Comptroller. A Democrat, Stringer also previously served as a New York State Assemblyman, and as the 26th borough president of Manhattan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Daytona Beach Bike Week</span> Motorcycle event and rally in Florida

Daytona Beach Bike Week, also called Daytona Bike Week, is a motorcycle event and rally held annually in Daytona Beach, Florida. Events occur throughout Volusia County, including the DeLand Bike Rally in Downtown DeLand on the first Saturday of Bike Week and other events in DeLeon Springs. Approximately 500,000 people make their way to the rally area for the 10-day event. The festivities include motorcycle racing, concerts, parties, and street festivals. The event is usually held on the first full week of March and contends with the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally as the most popular motorcycle rally in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2009 New York City mayoral election</span>

The 2009 election for Mayor of New York City took place on Tuesday, November 3. The incumbent Mayor, Michael Bloomberg, an independent who left the Republican Party in 2008, won reelection on the Republican and Independence Party/Jobs & Education lines with 50.7% of the vote over the retiring City Comptroller, Bill Thompson, a Democrat, who won 46.3%. Thompson had won the Democratic primary election on September 15 with 71% of the vote over City Councilman Tony Avella and Roland Rogers. This was the fifth straight mayoral victory by Republican candidates in New York, and the most recent to date, despite the city's strong Democratic lean in national and state elections.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stephen Goldsmith</span> American politician

Stephen "Steve" Goldsmith is an American politician and writer who was the 46th mayor of Indianapolis. He also served as the deputy mayor of New York City for operations from 2010 to 2011. A member of the Republican Party, he ran unsuccessfully for lieutenant governor of Indiana in 1988 and governor of Indiana in 1996. He is currently the Derek Bok Professor of the Practice of Urban Policy and Director of Data-Smart City Solutions at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. In 2006, Goldsmith was elected as a fellow of the National Academy of Public Administration.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hudson River Park</span> Public park in Manhattan, New York

Hudson River Park is a waterfront park on the North River that extends from 59th Street south to Battery Park in the New York City borough of Manhattan. The park, a component of the Manhattan Waterfront Greenway, stretches 4.5 miles (7.2 km) and comprises 550 acres (220 ha), making it the second-largest park in Manhattan after the 843-acre (341 ha) Central Park.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bill de Blasio</span> Mayor of New York City from 2014 to 2021

Bill de Blasio is an American politician who was the 109th mayor of New York City from 2014 to 2021. A member of the Democratic Party, he held the office of New York City Public Advocate from 2010 to 2013.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nude recreation</span> Leisure activity while naked

Nude recreation consists of recreational activities which some people engage in while nude. Historically, the ancient Olympic Games were nude events. There remain some societies in Africa, Oceania, and South America that continue to engage in everyday public activities—including sports—without clothes, while in most of the world nude activities take place in either private spaces or separate clothing optional areas in public spaces. Occasional events, such as nude bike rides, may occur in public areas where nudity is not otherwise allowed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eric Adams</span> Mayor of New York City since 2022

Eric Leroy Adams is an American politician and former police officer who has served as the 110th mayor of New York City since 2022. Adams was an officer in the New York City Transit Police and then the New York City Police Department (NYPD) for more than 20 years, retiring at the rank of captain. He served in the New York State Senate from 2006 to 2013, representing the 20th district in Brooklyn. In 2013, Adams was elected Brooklyn Borough President, the first African-American to hold the position, and re-elected in 2017.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cycling in New York City</span>

Cycling in New York City is associated with mixed cycling conditions that include dense urban proximities, relatively flat terrain, congested roadways with stop-and-go traffic, and streets with heavy pedestrian activity. The city's large cycling population includes utility cyclists, such as delivery and messenger services; cycling clubs for recreational cyclists; and increasingly commuters. Cycling is increasingly popular in New York City: in 2018 there were approximately 510,000 daily bike trips, compared with 170,000 daily bike trips in 2005.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Janette Sadik-Khan</span> Former commissioner of the New York City Department of Transportation

Janette Sadik-Khan is a former commissioner of the New York City Department of Transportation (2007–2013) and an advisor on transportation and urban issues. She works for Bloomberg Associates, a philanthropic consultancy established by former Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg that advises mayors around the world to improve the quality of life for their residents. She serves as chairperson for the National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO), a coalition of the transportation departments of 40 large cities nationwide.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Riegelmann Boardwalk</span> Boardwalk in Brooklyn, New York

The Riegelmann Boardwalk is a 2.7-mile-long (4.3 km) boardwalk on the southern shore of the Coney Island peninsula in Brooklyn, New York City, United States. Opened in 1923, the boardwalk runs along the Atlantic Ocean between West 37th Street to the west, at the edge of the Sea Gate neighborhood, and Brighton 15th Street to the east, in Brighton Beach. It is operated by the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brad Lander</span> American politician (born 1969)

Bradford S. Lander is an American politician, urban planner, and community organizer who currently serves as the New York City Comptroller. A member of the Democratic Party, Lander is a progressive politician, and has been described as "one of the most left-leaning politicians in the city."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Black Bike Week</span> Annual motorcycle rally in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

Black Bike Week, also called Atlantic Beach Bikefest, Black Bikers Week, and The Black Pearl Cultural Heritage and Bike Festival, is an annual motorcycle rally in the Myrtle Beach, South Carolina area, held on Memorial Day weekend. Called a "one-of-a-kind event" and "an exhibitionist's paradise" by Jeffrey Gettleman, Black Bike Week is "all about riding, styling and profiling," in the words of Mayor Irene Armstrong of Atlantic Beach, South Carolina.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2013 New York City mayoral election</span>

The 2013 New York City mayoral election occurred on November 5, 2013, along with elections for Comptroller, Public Advocate, Borough President, and members of the New York City Council. The incumbent mayor of New York City, Michael Bloomberg, a Republican-turned-Independent, was term-limited and thus unable to seek re-election to a fourth term in office.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Female toplessness in the United States</span>

In the United States, individual states have primary jurisdiction in matters of public morality. The topfreedom movement has claimed success in a few instances in persuading some state and federal courts to overturn some state laws on the basis of sex discrimination or equal protection, arguing that a woman should be free to expose her chest in any context in which a man can expose his. Other successful cases have been on the basis of freedom of expression in protest, or simply that exposure of breasts is not indecent.

References

  1. ↑ "Naked Cowboy Runs for NYC Mayor _ in His Underwear". The Guardian. London, UK. July 22, 2009. Retrieved November 22, 2011.
  2. ↑ "The Naked Cowboy Won't Let COVID-19 Derail His 20-Year Career". Rolling Stone . April 16, 2020.
  3. ↑ @TheNakedCowboy (February 27, 2014). "Touchdown New Orleans, French Quarter bound!! Carnival time" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  4. 1 2 (October 6, 2010) "NYC's Naked Cowboy suits up for presidential run" [ permanent dead link ], Associated Press. Retrieved on October 6, 2010.
  5. 1 2 Bayer, Casey (October 6, 2010). "Naked Cowboy for President: Top Celebrities (Past and Present) Who Aimed for the White House". Christian Science Monitor . Retrieved October 6, 2010.
  6. 1 2 "Naked Cowboy Briefs Nyers on His Presidential Bid". The Washington Post . October 6, 2010. Retrieved October 6, 2010.
  7. 1 2 "One Grad's Naked Ambition Keeps Turning Heads As He Furthers His Internationally Known Brand". University of Cincinnati.
  8. ↑ Ehrlich, Brenna (April 16, 2020). "The Naked Cowboy Won't Let COVID-19 Derail His 20-Year Career". Rolling Stone. Retrieved May 29, 2021.
  9. ↑ "Joe.ie". Archived from the original on April 3, 2014. Retrieved July 27, 2013.
  10. ↑ "New York's Naked Cowboy changes underwear after 12 years". New York City, NY: WLWT. July 22, 2009. Retrieved May 7, 2014.
  11. ↑ "Someone tried to pants Times Square's Naked Cowboy". November 12, 2020.
  12. ↑ "Naked Cowboy: Behind The Bulge". Mtv.com. January 10, 2007. Archived from the original on October 14, 2007. Retrieved November 22, 2011.
  13. ↑ "Naked Cowboy Runs for Mayor". Babelgum. July 22, 2009. Archived from the original on November 5, 2011. Retrieved November 22, 2011.
  14. ↑ Parsons, Claudia (July 20, 2009). "Naked Cowboy for NYC mayor: briefs or Bloomberg?". Reuters. Archived from the original on July 25, 2012. Retrieved January 16, 2012.
  15. ↑ "Secaucus' Naked Cowboy runs for president". October 6, 2010.
  16. ↑ "New York's 'Mayor of Burlesque' Wants to be New York's 'Mayor of New York'". Reuters. August 5, 2009. Retrieved September 6, 2015.
  17. ↑ "After Dark Inquiry: Jonny Porkpie". TimeOut. March 13, 2011. Archived from the original on November 24, 2015. Retrieved September 6, 2015.
  18. ↑ "Naked Cowboy on the Run ... for U.S. President". TMZ . September 30, 2010.
  19. ↑ "'Naked Cowboy' to Run for US president". Associated Press . October 4, 2010. Archived from the original on October 5, 2010.
  20. ↑ "A Naked Cowboy President in 2012?". The Washington Post . Archived from the original on June 14, 2012. Retrieved August 8, 2014.
  21. ↑ "'Naked Cowboy' to Run for U.S. Presidency". Toronto Sun . October 6, 2010.
  22. ↑ Singman, Brooke (February 25, 2020). "Bloomberg Attempts Joke About NYC's 'Naked Cowboy' in Dem Debate". Fox News .
  23. ↑ Kadet, Anne (December 22, 2020). "Neither Rain, Nor Snow Nor a Pandemic Discourages NYC's Naked Cowboy". The Wall Street Journal . Retrieved December 24, 2020.
  24. ↑ Gaber, Hannah (January 7, 2021). "Trump Rally Turns Violent As Rioters Storm US Capitol". USA Today . Retrieved January 7, 2021.
  25. ↑ Slater, Dan (February 13, 2008). "The Naked Cowboy Sues the Naked M&M". The Wall Street Journal .
  26. ↑ Slater, Dan (February 15, 2008). "The Wall Street Journal Law Blog, "Cowboy's Lawsuit Drives M&M Out of Dodge", February 15, 2008". Blogs.wsj.com. Retrieved November 22, 2011.
  27. ↑ "Middleton, Ekin, "'Naked Cowboy' can sue makers of M&Ms"". Cnn.com. June 24, 2008. Retrieved November 22, 2011.
  28. ↑ "Justia.com". Archived from the original on January 21, 2012.
  29. ↑ "Naked Cowboy, M&Ms settle lawsuit". UPI. November 8, 2008. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
  30. ↑ Fredericks, Bob (May 2, 2014). "The Naked Cowboy is finally changing his underwear". New York Post. Retrieved February 6, 2019. the terms were never disclosed
  31. ↑ Martinez, Jose (February 14, 2011). "Naked Cowboy getting dressed for court: Files lawsuit against CBS for 'Bold and the Beautiful' promo". Daily News . New York. Archived from the original on June 9, 2012. Retrieved November 22, 2011.
  32. ↑ Ornitz, Darren (July 12, 2013). "My day with the Naked Cowboy". Archived from the original on July 16, 2013.
  33. ↑ "The Naked Cowboy exposed: A day in the life of Times Square's most famous one-man-show". Roadtrippers. August 16, 2019.
  34. ↑ via The Wall Street Journal. "Neither Rain, Nor Snow Nor a Pandemic Discourages NYC’s Naked Cowboy", The Wall Street Journal , December 22, 2020. Accessed December 23, 2020. "Robert Burck prepares for the day at his apartment in Queens."
  35. ↑ Reeser, Matt (March 9, 2021). "WATCH: 'Naked Cowboy' arrested during Bike Week in Daytona Beach". WFTV. Retrieved March 9, 2021.
  36. ↑ Volz, Brianna (March 8, 2021). "New York City's 'Naked Cowboy' arrested during Bike Week in Daytona Beach". WKMG. Retrieved March 9, 2021.
  37. ↑ "Times Square Performer Known as the 'Naked Cowboy' Arrested in Daytona Beach While Performing at Bike Week". PEOPLE.com. Retrieved March 9, 2021.
  38. 1 2 "Naked Cowboy gets hero's welcome a week after arrest". AP NEWS. March 13, 2021. Retrieved June 28, 2021.
  39. 1 2 Abbott, Jim. "The Naked Cowboy rides again on Main Street after arrest at Daytona Beach's Bike Week". Daytona Beach News-Journal Online. Retrieved June 28, 2021.
  40. ↑ Fernandez, Frank. "Naked Cowboy seeks to take back plea; Daytona police chief counters he used n-word". Daytona Beach News-Journal Online. Retrieved June 28, 2021.
  41. ↑ "Daytona Beach Agrees to $90,000 Settlement with Naked Cowboy After Bike Week Arrest". ClickOrlando.com. July 20, 2022.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.