Family Of Original Model For Peeps Marshmallow Bunnies Sues For Unpaid Royalties

As Easter Sunday quickly approaches and the Easter Bunny and his minions work to fill the Easter Baskets of children all over the world, a lawsuit has hopped onto the scene which could affect the holiday for years.

According to legal documents provided to this Modern Philosopher, the Peeps Company is being sued for unpaid royalties by the family of the bunny wabbit…I mean rabbit…who was the original model for the bunny version of the irresistible marshmallow treats.

“Not only is the resemblance to my clients’ ancestor astounding, but there is also an iron clad contract between the candy company and one Mr. Reginald Roscoe Rabbit, which promises him, and his heirs, a 1% share of all sales of the candies made in his image for perpetuity,” explained Cy Brown, the famed Bangor attorney who represents the family.  “There is no way they can wiggle out of this.  Money is owed, and judging from the sales of Peeps the last decade alone, a great deal of money is owed to my clients.”

“My great-great-great-grandfather Reggie was so proud of the fact that they picked him out of all the bunnies in the world,” explained Bartholomew Q. Rabbit, the family spokesrabbit.  “He probably would’ve done it for free, considering what an honor it was, but the Peeps people gave him that contract and promised to pay him.  We haven’t seen a cent for the past twenty years!”

The picture on the left of young Reggie Rabbit in his pre-modeling days.  What a cutie, right?

The candy conglomerate had no comment on the story, and my sources tell me they are trying to keep the lawsuit under the radar until after Easter.  “They don’t want to risk looking like the bad guys and having the Easter Bunny decide to not use Peeps in all his baskets this year.  That would be a huge blow to their bottom line,” my source explained.

Cy Brown is a dear friend of the blog, however, so when he asked me to write about this case, I was happy to do it.  “This isn’t going to affect my Passover one way or the other,” Cy explained to me today during his visit to The House on the Hill.  “But there is a family of adorable bunnies to whom this means a great deal.  How can we let bunnies be sad at Easter?  Am I right?”

What do you think, Modern Philosophers?  Should the peeps at Peeps head this off now and just settle with Reggie’s heirs?  Do you think the bunnies have a leg to stand on?  What color Peeps is your favorite?

I don’t know about you, but this post is making my tummy rumble.  I’m going to find something to eat, and I look forward to coming back and reading your comments.

Happy Easter Week!