Celebrity Justice
Borat Lawsuit -- High Five!!!

How's this for the beginning of a lawsuit filed today in Los Angeles County Superior Court? -- "Sacha Baron Cohen is a prankster."Click to view documents

Two anonymous plaintiffs are suing 20th Century Fox and One America Productions, claiming members of their college fraternity were interviewed to become part of the smash "Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan" film.

The plaintiffs -- listed as John Doe 1 and John Doe 2 -- were allegedly assured the film would not be shown in the U.S. and their identities would not be revealed.

They were both selected to appear in the movie and, according to the suit, taken "to a drinking establishment 'to loosen up' and provided alcoholic beverages." They claim they signed the movie releases after "heavy drinking."

The suit claims both men were then taken to a motor home where they were filmed, all the while "encouraged to continue drinking."

The movie features a scene in a motor home where Cohen gets drunk with three frat boys who go on a racist rant about how they wished they had slaves and how minorities in the United States "have all the power."

According to the lawsuit, the frat boys only received $200 for the controversial appearance.

The plaintiffs claim they suffered "humiliation, mental anguish, and emotional and physical distress, loss of reputation, goodwill and standing in the community..." because the movie was indeed released in the U.S.

The suit asks for unspecified damages.

Calls to 20th Century Fox were not immediately returned.



Tags: Borat, Sacha Baron Cohen, SachaBaronCohen

Reader Comments

(Page 15 of 16) Previous 15 Comments | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | Most Recent | Next 15 Comments

211. I only want my money back. it seems ordinary americans are the only people who have no one to protect them. i should have been warned how bad this movie really is!!!!!!!!!!

Posted at 9:46AM on Nov 28th 2006 by doug

212. Interestingly enough, with every success there follows a failure or in the entertainment industry, a lawsuit. At best, in situations where people feel they were betrayed or coerced into signing a consent (rather in a drunken state or not) should probably do their research and determine whether or not the documentary they will indeed be featured in is fraudulent or not. To sympathize with two drunken stupid frat boys who have been exposed nationally, nevertheless, as two drunken stupid frat boys is just plain dumb. Shame on you.

Posted at 9:50PM on Nov 27th 2006 by Cara Elizabeth

213. Sacha Cohen is ace, if anyone thinks that those fratboys have a right to sue, then you're just as moronic as them. Yanks are funny, because there crap (except the smart ones, all 7 of them)!!!

Posted at 4:08PM on Nov 28th 2006 by Phill

214. Okay listen closely, plain and simple. When drunk, true feelings come out. These kids regret it only due to the fact that everyone has seen and heard there true feelings about African-Americans. They want money and they do not deserve a cent. I laughed till I was blue in the face when I saw the movie. Thats the point, to laugh. Hmm I wonder why it did so well, oh that's right because it t was f'n hilarious. Those kids are just ashamed and want money. They made me laugh but they do not deserve a cent. Peace Out.

Posted at 5:30PM on Nov 29th 2006 by Jared

215. im sorry but..
how do you fraudulently induce behavior,
in fact, drinking REVEALS you true self
or do you not read blake - if they are gonna
bank on their new celebrity, maybe they should think
of doing snl

Posted at 10:46PM on Nov 29th 2006 by samiam

216. Yes, fraternities are social clubs. The unfortunate thing about them is that they mostly attract a**holes. These guys are a great example of what happens when a bunch of drunken a**holes get together and talk without thinking. Which is what most of us do every day. They were just stupid enough to allow someone to film it. These retards should have paid attention. Bottom line. Any time you sign a contract, you are legally bound to whatever the ramifications are. And if they have a problem with it because they were drunk? How many of their pledges decided to join their frat when they were drunk? Thanks for playing, guys.

Posted at 7:33PM on Nov 30th 2006 by Mike

217. What...they wanna sue because they showed their TRUE SELVES on film and then when they realized that people would see who they really are, they don't want it to be seen? TOO FREAKIN BAD. Should have thought about that before you opened your mouths and made asses out of yourselves, boyz.

GET A F***ING CLUE.

I hope it f***s up the rest of their pathetic little lives. They deserve it.

Posted at 1:00PM on Dec 3rd 2006 by Joshua

218. In Vino Veritas.

Posted at 2:28AM on Dec 4th 2006 by ViN

219. even if these idiots were drunk, it still shows where the minds are. I rest easy that these fools have insured that they will never get laid (with consent) and therefore will not produce any offspring. Thanks Borat!

Posted at 12:50PM on Dec 6th 2006 by Lando Griffin

220. Please. They made THEMSELVES look like jackasses, but why is that the "Borat" producers fault? I was drunk and that made me say things I would never say otherwise? Yeah, wouldn't say out loud, maybe. They didn't know their school would be identified? Then why was one of the clowns wearing a baseball cap with his school's name on it... the whole time the camera was rolling ??

They're embarassed because they embarassed themselves. If they were lied to or given lines to read, then they can make that argument in court. Otherwise, I think it's just an attempt to squeeze money, while not accepting responsibility for their own actions.

Posted at 1:25PM on Dec 11th 2006 by Defender90

221. Dumb asses, Thats the problem with americans, always with the suing. Thats why borat was such a success, he finally showed Americans what theyre really like and have finally gotten the joke that the rest of us have been sharing for years.

Posted at 10:07AM on Dec 10th 2006 by CL

222. Ok. All this sueing is STUPID! All those assholes sueing need to get a life and take a joke. And for those frats who were degrading and saying stupid shit. OH WELL! You fucked yourself, you made your grave now lie in it! IT WAS PROBABLY BOUND TO HAPPEN! they all look more like a bunch of assholes for sueing now.
...Sasha is a COMEDIAN! comedians make jokes everyday about cultures and races... WHO CARES its all in good humor! I support him 100%. Bush has gotten bashed for years, you dont see him sueing everyone for films or jokes played on him.
... And seriously come on people...he is OBVIOUSLY JOKING. He makes fun of himself (being jewish).... should he get angry at himself?
GET A LIFE!

Posted at 11:21AM on Dec 11th 2006 by Tara

223. This has not one single thing to do with frats or fraternities. This is three good ol' boys in a camper, who while they were drunk let slip their sincere wish for the return of slavery. All you people who are going on and on about frats are missing the bigger picture, likely on purpose in an attempt to divert attention from the real shame, that is, that the particular sentiment expressed by those boys is not so uncommon in y'alls neck of the woods.

Posted at 3:21PM on Dec 19th 2006 by Marisea

224. end of the day what those boys said WERE THEIR REAL FEELINGS !!!
they are just GUTTED they got caught on tape expressing their attitudes.... COWARDS!! take the consequences like men, strange thing is i bet there were LOADS of people before this who thought they were idiots- difference is now they KNOW those people and the world think they are completly uneducated, narrow minded idiots! !

at the time they thought they were COOL saying what they did, you should feel sorry for people like this, they are SHEEP!!!!

What people FORGET is that COHEN he is an extremely intelligent man, and simply what he does is get people to show their true side - because the people he interviews look DOWN on him!!

a lesson of THINK BEFORE YOU SPEAK! and take the consequences of your actions!

Posted at 10:06AM on Jan 13th 2007 by kirsty

225. Borat is an awesome movie... Fuck everyone that sues...

Posted at 2:44AM on Jan 14th 2007 by Asshole #2

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