Universal Pictures calls “Bruno” suit frivolous
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Movie studio Universal Pictures on Friday responded to a lawsuit filed earlier this week against its parent company and comedian Sacha Baron Cohen calling it “frivolous” and saying its claims were “baseless.”
California resident Richelle Olson sued Cohen and Universal Pictures’ parent NBC Universal, the media division of General Electric Co., in Los Angeles Superior Court over an encounter with Cohen when he was filming his movie “Bruno.”
Olson claims Cohen showed up at a charity bingo event in 2007 as the flamboyant gay Austrian character Bruno and pushed her. Olson says she fell and was surrounded by cameramen who attacked her. Later, she says she fainted, hit her head causing bleeding to her brain, and must now use a wheelchair.
But in its statement, Universal said: “filmed footage of the full encounter, which took place more than two years ago, clearly shows that Ms. Olson was never touched or in any way assaulted by Sacha Baron Cohen or any member of the production and suffered no injury.”
Universal said “we expect each of the defendants to be fully vindicated.”
“Bruno,” which lands in theaters in July, follows Cohen’s 2006 surprise hit “Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan,” which made more than $260 million at worldwide box offices.
That comedy featured the comic actor in the role of a naive and rude journalist from Kazakhstan named Borat, who has unscripted meetings with dumbstruck Americans.
“Borat” attracted several lawsuits from individuals Cohen encountered while shooting that film. Both Borat and Bruno are characters Cohen invented for his “Da Ali G Show,” which aired on British and American television.
(Editing by Bob Tourtellotte)
June 8th, 2009 at 12:52 am
It happens, when fools claim such things of things, for thing of such and what not.
June 8th, 2009 at 9:26 am
its a tradtition in USA to sue every1 for anything.
June 11th, 2009 at 6:22 am
… and those things are just… a bunch of what nots.
June 11th, 2009 at 7:17 am
well i will tell you this much, IT NOT THAT MUCH OF A TRADITION!! I have never once sued anyone or anything for nothing! i think that you should not speak like that pete, about us americans. it is unkind and not nice at all! and about this movie i loved Sacha Baron Cohen in the tv show OC and i know i will love him as a director in this!
June 12th, 2009 at 7:20 am
to the k!ng:
Your poor English does not help your case.
Pete is right we are a very sue-happy country. I am an Emergency Room RN and I practice medical law more than I practice medical science. I do this solely to cover my ass from getting sued.
Think before you react.
June 12th, 2009 at 11:57 am
They need to change the system it is a clearly broken system that you can sue for stupid things and even win!
Go Bruno!!
June 13th, 2009 at 10:51 pm
I could only be so lucky to be graced by the presence of a stand up guy, in character with out a hitch causing such mayhem. Lachiem!
June 14th, 2009 at 9:21 am
bahahha
doing america proud there king. sacha baron cohen the comedian is not fomr the OC.
poor america
June 14th, 2009 at 4:42 pm
the king, he isn’t only a director in this but the main star, and I am pretty sure he wasn’t in the OC! Americans Suck.
June 14th, 2009 at 10:25 pm
Lol @ the k!ng.
It’s a joke [though somewhat true].
June 15th, 2009 at 1:55 am
To the k!ng – I think you’re referring to Seth Cohen (a character in the OC played by Adam Brody). American’s just dig their own hole don’t they!
Otherwise, a silly claim from what it seems.
June 15th, 2009 at 3:45 am
hahahahahahhaahahha ONLY IN AMERICA. GOD BLESS THAT STUPID COUNTRY.HAHAHAHAHAHA I STILL CANT BELEIVE BUSH GOT 2 TERMS. HHAHAHAHAHAAHAHHHAHAHAHAHAA Does anyone see the humor in that? Whatta funny 2 terms it was!!!!!
June 15th, 2009 at 3:02 pm
This movie is the best people just be hatin
June 15th, 2009 at 9:04 pm
I think its hilarious man. I thought for sure after the Americans saw how bush ran the country the first term they wouldn’t elect him again, but they did. Their stupid f@#%ing country wrecked the whole f*@#ing financial system because Americans are greedy and they are always trying to exploit the system. Haha and don’t even get me started on the news they watch, whenever i catch a minute or two i can help but think “i cant believe the American public falls for this” they just let the government tell them whatever and believe every word of it.
June 16th, 2009 at 3:18 am
What happened to her happened ‘off screen’ (ie; when not filming) you idiots.
Just because the Baron-cohen legal entourage say it was not on film does not mean it never happened. Duh!
June 16th, 2009 at 6:41 am
She was claiming that they also attacked her. She was actually dumb enough to say that the cameramen attacked her. Now this is truly a farce. This woman is probably trying to bank on the idea that conservative morons will hate Sacha Baron Cohen in court. I hate to say it, but she’s probably right. Hopefully those same morons will hate her pathetic, frivolous lawsuit too.
June 16th, 2009 at 11:22 am
I agree americans suck @$$ there so stupid and ignorant
June 16th, 2009 at 1:34 pm
shut up all the planet know that usa do that
June 17th, 2009 at 12:05 pm
@ the k!ng: LOL! Your ignorance of, well… everything, is amusing. I have met some intelligent, humble, and world-aware Americans so I know they do exist. Alas, they are the minority.
@ Canada, eh: If you’re going to proudly announce your country in your name, perhaps make sure your insult is spelled correctly. You write like an American, lol!
@ the article: I certainly wouldn’t do the type of stuff Sacha Baron Cohen does for his movies, interacting with ignorant public in such a litigious society as the US. He’s as likely to get shot as sued, or both!
June 17th, 2009 at 10:20 pm
To everyone who hates and is insulting America: Fuck you.
To everyone who makes fun of us for Bush: Fuck you too. There was nothing we could do. He cheated.
Yes, Americans sue people a lot. Ever wonder why coffe cups say “CAUTION:HOT” on them? Somebody burned themselves and then won a lawsuit. American lawyers will take any case, and the American legal system will hear any case, no matter how ridiculously frivolous it is. It’s sad. But we still have enough nuclear weapons to destroy the entire world sixty times over. So HA-HA-HA.
June 17th, 2009 at 11:15 pm
Haha well I think it was proven that a wide variety of Americans are idiots and sadly one of my fellow Canadians tarnished our name too. But I love how “DOUG FROM AMERICA” takes pride in how “his” country can blow up the world so not to mess with him. I bet “DOUG” has lots of say as to how “his” country uses their atomic weapons. Just remember that China owns your entire country and a country as small as North Korea and blow you up and people from New Zealand or other small countries are more well liked around the world then you. Good on Sasha Baron Cohen for making such awesome characters and comedy based on what isn’t socially acceptable. I would love to have thought of the idea and do what he does haha hilarious!
June 18th, 2009 at 11:21 am
I am Russian, and I believe that a movie like this would go better with a Russian than a Kazakh or an Austrian.
June 18th, 2009 at 2:57 pm
Poor Americans, getting picked on a lot lately!!
Why people are getting sued, well cause they are stupid and don’t know how to live in their society!In Europa people get sued to but not as many.
Education…yes??! Hating fellow citizens …um..that’s for sure?!?
I’ve never seen so much hate in any other countries against their own fellow citizens as in US! Be cause you mean nothing to each other, your roots are so tangled up, not enough sure what to call yourselves, US citizen, yes that’s right, you got nothing else in you.. have ya.
You are operated like robots by a Government, and you say you’ve freedom of choice cause you are programmed to say it.
US your day will come, or has already arrived, WE will make the world better place, for all off us, cause you failed to do it, you’ve tried to make the world better only for yourselves. We gonna squeeze the evil out of you, soon.
We don’t wish bad for you, we only want to save the world.
And in schools focus on the world more if you are planning to lead it!!
June 18th, 2009 at 3:37 pm
Calling the majority of Americans “idiots” shows as much ignorance as you are claiming Americans to be. No country is perfect and every country has its good and bad. Yes, there are rural Americans who are not very informed, but so do the British, the French, the Canadians and the Chinese. It’s unfair to judge an entire country by the lowest common denominator. The Majority of Americans are kind, generous and fun loving people. If Americans seem less interested in world events or issues facing the world, it is a product of their internal prosperity that they have enjoyed for many years. I wish more countries would be so lucky to enjoy life more and worry less about wars and economic hardship.
June 19th, 2009 at 11:02 pm
The nuke thing was a joke. Ha ha ha….get it…? Guess not…
Lots of good points here (except from the haters). Yes, there are stupid Americans. There are also Americans who really mean it when they say “were gonna use nuculer wepons on ur ass!!! loooololololo!!!!!!111″. About half of us, howerver, *cough*Democrats*cough* are intelligent, well informed, and don’t hate the rest of the world. So don’t hate us. Hate stupidity and ignorance. They have no nationality, they do not discriminate against race or gender. You can have an American, a Canadian, and a Mexican gay black Hasidic Jew stand side by side and not be able to discern how much more stupid one is than the other.
Don’t hate people; inform people. Don’t insult people if they are from America; insult them if they are stupid.
Back on topic: I love Cohen. History has shown that lawsuits cannot keep a funny man down. His movie will do great.
June 23rd, 2009 at 8:31 am
So, I wouldent want to fuck with Americka. Sie haben Atomkreig mit die Russland.Kalt Kreig.
Amerika, They have the Nukes,The U.S.M.C. And the stregth to kick anyother countrys ass.
I’m German, And I relized that WW1…WW2 was our fault. But at least were not French. And it took all of Europa to take down somthing halb texas?. We pwn Europe.
Osterreich ist schon.