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Spain’s Guarino Sabaté Cleared to Use Minions Music at the Olympics After Last-Minute Deal

Public pressure prompted rightsholders to clear a final hold on Pharrell Williams’ “Freedom.”

Overview

  • Tomàs-Llorenç Guarino Sabaté secured licenses for all four tracks in his Minions medley on Friday, confirming he will skate the short program at Milan-Cortina.
  • He thanked ClicknClear, Spain’s RFEDH, Universal Pictures, Pharrell Williams, Sony Music, and Juan Alcaraz after the final approval arrived just hours before figure skating began.
  • Universal’s late request for details on music edits and the Minions-themed costume triggered the review, after which two tracks were quickly cleared and a third was resolved directly with a Spanish artist.
  • “Freedom” by Pharrell Williams was the final hurdle, with clearance granted on Feb. 6 following a viral fan campaign and expedited negotiations.
  • The episode spotlights broader licensing challenges in figure skating, as the ISU acknowledges ongoing talks with major labels and other skaters, including Loena Hendrickx, adjusted programs due to rights concerns.