Sacha Baron Cohen’s comedy is known for two things: Exploiting stereotypes, and attracting lawsuits. Bruno is already infamous for both, but we’re preparing ourselves for a possible double-whammy: An actual gay Austrian fashion TV reporter who loves Zac Efron claims he’s the inspiration for Cohen’s character. TMZ: “The dude caught in the middle is Alfons Haider — he’s proud to be gay, he’s into fashion, and (just like Bruno) he’s also been known to compare himself to Zac Efron. Want more evidence? — Alfons is the highest-paid presenter on Austrian state broadcaster ORF. In the film, Bruno works for a channel called OJRF. Coincidence? The controversy has been raging in Austria for a while, but Haider just told The Telegraph newspaper, ‘I never understood the comparison to myself at all. The only comparisons I can think of is that I’m Austrian, I’m gay, and I work for television, but the rest is completely fiction.'”
So you mean the “eye-popping montage of extreme gay sex practices (imaginary, one hopes), a surfeit of waving penises, dildos, fetish gear, anal bleaching, and an excruciating mime in which Brüno fellates the ghost of a deceased member of Milli Vanilli in front of a psychic” … is all made up?
Bitch, please!
UUGGHH! Why won’t he go away?
jason
What concerns me about Bruno is that he is reducing homosexuality (defined as the love between two people of the same gender) to a series of camp, garish skits. Camp, garish skits are not homosexuality, they’re simply camp, garish skits.
Darrien
Cohen was doing Bruno more than ten years ago. I’m not sure Haider was even around on TV back then
Shelby Anne
@Darrien
Haider was born in 1957 and started his TV career in 1979.
Anything else? Oh yes…
He has been TV presenter of the prestigious Vienna Opera Ball for Austria’s public network ORF since 1995.
TANK
What an honer for this fagala.
galefan2004
I’m shocked! Seeing this is QT I was sure someone would have mentioned how much hotter this dude is than Cohen. Then again, Cohen is just an ugly assed troll, so pretty much everyone is hotter than he is. That is probably why he likes satirizing the gay community so much. My bet is 10 years ago he hit on a twink and got shot down, and that started his 10 year love affair with stereotyping the gay community. While I believe he has a right to do what he does, I also believe I have a right to judge him for doing it.
fievos
Hmm. I don’t think it’s theft if you’re satirising someone.
DBaines
Wow, look at all the hateration going on here. I for one can’t wait to go see this film!
Bitch Republic
That 52 yo guy compares himself to Zac Efron!??
bobito
@Shelby Anne: Yeah, but I think Alfons Haider has only been out for about the last 10 years of his 30-year TV career. Some friends of mine have worked with him in different shows, so I’ve met him and have heard about him. If Bruno is based on him, he’s certainly not based on his public persona.
@Bitch Republic: Embarrassing, isn’t it?
Bruno
Now Alfons is getting more attention. He will probably take advantage of the new opportunities in front of him now.
Ste
Bruno is not based on him, the inspiration came from a guy he met in London that was a housemate of his friend while at university. I know exactly who it is and the guy is German and not Austrian, and Bruno has a catch phrase that is German.
The man who is the inspiration talks about it quite freely and was proud at one point until he was shown clips of Sacha Baron Cohen’s TV show in the UK.
Danke
Tony
Parody is protected speech. Bruno rocks. Lighten up, I know plenty of superficial queens who sparkle for Obama.
marius
Some in the gay community are concerned about the “Bruno Effect.”
What about the Austrians?
bobito
@Bruno: That is a pretty safe bet…
@marius: I don’t think they’re flattered, from what I’ve read.
dontblamemeivotedforhillary
Two dildos (er, lawsuits) is better than one, jah?