*NSYNC Choreographer Sues Sony Music Over ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ Scene
The dispute centers on the film’s ‘Bye Bye Bye’ dance choreography
\*NSYNC choreographer Darrin Henson is suing Sony Music over the use of his “Bye Bye Bye” dance in a scene from the Deadpool & Wolverine movie.
Backstory:
Henson was commissioned to choreograph the dance for “Bye Bye Bye” 27 years ago by the group’s then-manager, Johnny Wright.
As Digital Music News points out, he argues he never signed a “work made for hire” agreement prior to its creation and is thus the sole owner of the dance.
He states he never transferred that ownership to a third party.
The issue:
In 2024, Sony Music licensed the dance and the song for Deadpool & Wolverine, “without Henson’s knowledge, consent, or involvement,” as per the legal action.
Henson “immediately put the purported licensor SME, and its known licensees on notice of his ownership.”
In 2025 Henson registered the choreography with the Copyright Office.
Henson and SME then engaged in talks, with Digital Music News stating the parties had been “actively conversing” since December 2025.
When, however, a tolling agreement – which effectively pauses the countdown to the deadline by which someone can file a lawsuit – expired on March 30, Henson decided to “proceed with his claims via this request for declaratory relief.”
Ownership:
Henson is seeking a court declaration that he is “the exclusive owner of the” dance and that Sony doesn’t have an interest “sufficient to confer standing... to pursue claims of ownership.”
👋 Disclosures & Transparency Block
This story was written with information from Digital Music News.
We covered it because it’s news of a lawsuit involving Sony Music.
