At a Los Angeles anti-Prop 8 rally in 2008, Sacha Baron Cohen showed up as Bruno, the flamboyant Austrian fashion reporter who earned $139 million worldwide. It was at that event, claims a gay cameraman 15 months after the movie arrived in theaters, Cohen assaulted him.
In a new lawsuit, Mike Skiff is demanding $25k in damages for his pain and suffering after he was unwittingly caught up in Cohen’s plan to “promote violent discord” while waving around pro-Prop 8 signs “contrived for the sole purpose of inciting and sparking unrest to enhance the dramatic effect of what they may capture for their film.” Skiff, who was documenting the rally as he does many LGBT events, felt “the threat of being clubbed with wooden signs” as Bruno crew worked to keep him from videotaping Cohen’s stunt
It’s only the latest lawsuit against Cohen’s fey film. He and his production company were sued last year by a woman claiming she was roped into participating in the film during a charity bingo game in California. That lawsuit also claimed the Bruno camped engaged in violent acts for the purpose of sensationalized events for the camera.
Below, Skiff’s video of Cohen filming at the rally (cue to around 5:15):
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
Matthiew
Homophobic assholes, all of them. Any gay publication that helped promote this piece of shit movie should be ashamed of itself.
Allen D.
The Bruno movie was stupid. He’s basically a one-hit-wonder with “Borat” (which I enjoyed). The Ali G movie failed, “Bruno” didn’t do all that great. Can’t believe he’s still doing it.
Allen D.
I’m also pretty fucking appalled by the Bruno crew’s behavior. Hope you win, Mike!
Biff
Peace brothers, I’m here. Thanks for the support. The story will come out.
Kev C
The Bruno crew are so legally wrong they should just settle out of court. Commercial filming without a license, incitement and civil disturbance, unreasonable expectation of privacy, assault, and looking like homophobe assholes.
adam
@Allen D.: Got well over $100 million. I’d think that’s fairly well.
B
Look at his signs – words with German roots and English endings, words that don’t exist, etc. He’s trying to ridicule the “yes on eight” people by appearing to be even more ignorant than they are
while they don’t have a clue as to what is going on.
He could just as well be holding a sign that says, “Lern Engish” at an “English as the official language” rally. It’s childish, but then, so is his film.
Ryan
Wow. Are there people left in the world who still don’t get Cohen. He was making fun of Prop 8 supporters. Jeez people, get a clue.
FYI
Sasha “Boring” Cohen is to the Gay Community what Al Jolson was to the African American Community (of which, unlike Cohen, Jolson was actually supportive).
In case any of you youngins’ don’t know who Al Jolson was. Google him. He used to do Black-face comedy/singing during the 1920s in Vaudeville.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blackface
Photo below from Wikipedia historical text on Black Minstrel Singers…[img]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Minstrel_PosterBillyVanWare_edit.jpg[/img]
ewe
I have not bothered to see any of his movies. I think his humor is STUPID. I do not care for “dumb insults” as my outlet for funny. He should be the poster child for Bullying.
jack e. jett
If this is true, I would never go see him play Freddie Mercury.
Maneesh
Nice one….
-Maneesh.
Gotocamera.com
ait10101
He is puerile, and appeals to puerile minds. That said, pretty much everybody knows this, and the complaint is stupid.
Fitz
He is an active participant in the culture that makes 13 year olds decide to hang themselves.
Gary B.
Sascha Baron Cohen is hilarious and his movie just exposes homophobia in it’s many forms. I think most LGBT people would enjoy it unless they’ve got something up their butt (and not in the good way).
Anyway, after seeing the video, why is Cohen getting sued? He’s not the one who assaulted anyone – it was the cameraman after Cohen was gone. Yeah, they were all there because of Cohen, but still…
crispy
Mike Skiff is such a tool. This is the same guy who posted time and again that he was a member of the White House Press Corp. and consistently beefs up his resume to make it appear that he’s anything more than a two-bit cameraman who films Mr. Leather competitions.
Regardless of how you feel about Bruno, if you think Mike Skiff is doing anything but lying about this, you are a fool. I mean honestly, 2 years later he decides to come out with physical assault? Give me a break.
B
No. 9 · FYI wrote “Sasha ‘Boring’ Cohen is to the Gay Community what Al Jolson was to the African American Community (of which, unlike Cohen, Jolson was actually supportive).” … except of course (as a quibble), Al Jolson was far more talented.
Curiously, I once saw a film after which Ruby Keeler made a guest appearance, and she was at one point married to Jolson. She most likely knew George M. Cohan too (appearing in one of his Broadway productions early in her career).