The creator behind one of pop’s most recognizable dance routines is taking legal action over its recent resurgence in film and gaming.
Darrin Henson, who choreographed NSYNC’s “Bye Bye Bye,” has filed a lawsuit against Sony Music Holdings, alleging the company allowed his work to be used without his approval in projects including Deadpool & Wolverine and the video game Fortnite.
According to the complaint, filed March 27 in federal court, Henson claims he is the rightful owner of the choreography and that Sony lacked the authority to license it.
The routine, known for its puppet-string-inspired moves, became a defining part of early 2000s pop culture and earned Henson the MTV Video Music Award for Best Choreography in 2000. More than two decades later, it has found new life through viral moments, most notably in the opening credits of Deadpool & Wolverine. But Henson argues that renewed visibility has come without proper recognition.
In the filing, he alleges the choreography has been used and rebranded in ways that disconnect it from its original creator, with the routine now widely associated with the film’s character rather than its origins. He also claims that others, including Nick Pauley, who performed the dance in the film, are benefiting from the work while he has not received credit or compensation.
Beyond the film, the choreography has also appeared as an in-game emote in Fortnite, further expanding its reach across platforms. Neither Marvel nor Epic Games is named as a defendant in the lawsuit, which focuses on Sony’s role in licensing the work.
At the heart of the case is a dispute over ownership. Henson maintains that he created the choreography independently in 1999 for NSYNC’s first live performance of “Bye Bye Bye” and never signed a work-for-hire agreement that would transfer his rights.
He argues that Sony’s claim to the choreography stems from its ownership of the music video, but that the company failed to properly account for his creative work when securing its copyrights.
After attempting to resolve the issue privately, Henson is now seeking a declaratory judgment from the court to formally establish his ownership and recover any profits generated from the choreography’s recent use.
“The reality is that the work belongs to Henson,” the complaint states, emphasizing his effort to gain full recognition and financial restitution tied to the routine’s continued success.
Per his complaint, Henson’s choreography debuted during NSYNC’s performance at the 1999 Radio Music Awards. You can see it at around the 1:50 mark below.
