Naked Cowboy | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Burck performing in 2016 | |
| Born | Robert John Burck (1970-12-23)December 23, 1970 (age 55) Cincinnati,Ohio, U.S. |
| Occupations | Singer, songwriter, writer, former political candidate, actor |
| Years active | 1998–present |
| Spouse(s) | |
| Website | nakedcowboy |
Robert John Burck (born December 23, 1970), better known as theNaked Cowboy, is an Americanstreet performer who regularly sings in New York City'sTimes Square.[1] He is also a regular in the streets of theFrench Quarter during theNew Orleans Mardi Gras season.[2][3] He wears onlycowboy boots, a hat, and whitebriefs, with a guitar strategically placed to give the illusion ofnudity.
In October 2010, Burck formally announced that he was running for president of the United States in the2012 U.S. election as a candidate representing theU.S. Tea Party movement.[4]
Burck was born inCincinnati, Ohio, and attended Our Lady of the Rosary elementary school in nearbyGreenhills, Ohio. He later earned a bachelor's degree inpolitical science from theUniversity of Cincinnati College of Arts and Sciences in 1995.[5] He beganbusking in December 1997, and first appeared onVenice Beach, Los Angeles.[5]
He is best known as a fixture ofTimes Square in New York City, where he has appeared almost daily since September 1999.[6] He made an appearance inDonnybrook, Dublin,Ireland, on January 25, 2009, where he performed his theme song "I'm the Naked Cowboy" at aLeinster Rugby game before 18,000 spectators.[7] In May 2014, Burck temporarily switched from his usualbriefs toboxer briefs, after being sponsored byFruit of the Loom.[8]
On November 11, 2020, while Burck was performing in New York in front of a few tourists, a person pulled down and ripped hisbriefs.[9]
Burck has made appearances in three music videos, includingCake's "Short Skirt/Long Jacket",Tyler Hilton's "When It Comes", andNickelback's "Rockstar". In 2007, Burck released an album of his own, signing to 4Sight Music Productions and recording the pop-rock albumYear of the Cowboy produced by Lee Evans and Dante Lattanzi at JAMBOX Recording Studios in New York City. The album was featured onMTV News.[10]
On July 20, 2009, it was announced that Burck would challenge MayorMichael Bloomberg in the2009 New York City mayoral election.[11][12][13] In response,Jonny Porkpie, the self-proclaimed "burlesque Mayor of NYC", announced that he would run against him.[14][15]
On September 29, 2010, Burck announced his intentions to challenge PresidentBarack Obama in the2012 presidential election. At his announcement, he 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 hostMichael Savage. He changed his appearance by wearing a dress suit and had his hair cut.[16][17][18] On October 6, 2010, Burck officially declared his presidential candidacy at a press conference in Times Square.[19][20][4] He stated that he was neither aDemocrat nor aRepublican, but rather "an American" and that he intended to lead the U.S.Tea Party movement into theOval Office.[21]
Bloomberg referenced the Naked Cowboy during thetenth 2020 Democratic primary debate in Charleston, South Carolina, on February 25, 2020. When asked whether he would support expanding his signaturesoda 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 toThe Wall Street Journal in December 2020, Burck is "a bigTrump supporter."[23] He participated in a rally inWashington, D.C., prior to thestorming of the United States Capitol on January 6, 2021.[24]
Mars, Incorporated created a short animation of the BlueM&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 atrademark 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 inpunitive 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 thetrademark claims.[28] Burck and Mars Incorporated settled the lawsuit in November 2008, the terms of which were not disclosed.[29][30]
Burck filed a trademark infringement lawsuit againstCBS 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]
On February 15, 2013, Burck married Patricia Burck fromMexico City. A professionalbelly dancer and group fitness instructor, she is also a licensed Naked Cowgirl franchisee.[32][33]
Burck is a resident ofQueens.[34]
On March 6, 2021, Burck was arrested inDaytona Beach, Florida, where he was appearing atDaytona Beach Bike Week. He was arrested on charges ofpanhandling 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 withheldadjudication on the resisting arrest charge, making it not appear as a conviction on his criminal record, dropped the panhandling charge, and sentenced Burck totime 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 withTakamine, 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]
the terms were never disclosed
