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 6 of 16) Previous 15 Comments | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | Most Recent | Next 15 Comments

76. According to the article: 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."

So am I to understand that you can use "being inebriated", as an excuse for your actions and decisions in court and win? Wow...I'm surprised more DUI cases don't get let out of court that easy. Noticed they were "encouraged to drink" and not force. Come one...these are college frat boys. They were going to drink anyway, and were excited because they found someone to buy them free booze. You find me a frat boy not familiar with Ali G/Borat, and I'll find you a liar.

Posted at 9:17AM on Nov 10th 2006 by Brett Wilkins

77. I agree with #2 and #5 they are doing tha tonly because movie is doing sooo good.

Posted at 8:14AM on Nov 10th 2006 by GentleTip.com

78. If any of you cunts had a clue what a Fraternity was actually about, then I would take your comments under consideration. But since you just like to judge based on what you hear about, then I won't try to explain it to you. It would be over your uneducated heads.

I do, however, think these morons got what they deserved. I guarantee they knew exactly what they were getting into. They're just trying to make a quick buck, which they probably will.

Posted at 11:25PM on Nov 13th 2006 by Ty

79. maybe this two plaintiffs were still drunk

Posted at 8:53AM on Nov 10th 2006 by car videos

80. I agree with most of the comments. This is absurd. I hope Borat/Fox gets damages out of those stupid frat boys for bringing a frivolous lawsuit. You frat boys were filmed by a obvious "commodian". You enjoyed making asses of yourselves. You signed a release. Get over it.

Posted at 9:08AM on Nov 10th 2006 by Andrew P

81. The kind of people who hate "frats" are hilarious. They're an amalgam of losers, half-wits, outcasts, and other pretentious weasels.

Borat is a ghoul who makes money by humiliating people through deception and stereotypes. I for one am glad to see these guys get sued. You can get anybody to say any number of ridiculous and/or horrible things after plying them with booze.

I'm in a fraternity and I've never seen or heard of date rapes or public urination at my house. In fact, as much as I find other chapters on my campus to be annoying I'd have to say that their reputation in regards to the treatment of women is no worse than the average 21st century college man.

The "frat boy" and the non-homosexual white Christian male are the last two archtypes of people you're allowed to make fun of without the PC patrol coming down on you and Borat takes good advantage of this.

Posted at 9:12AM on Nov 10th 2006 by Kyle

82. What a couple of candy-asses.

Posted at 9:08AM on Nov 10th 2006 by jeff

83. These guys are ridiculous! They, not Cohen, made asses of themselves. They made the anti-Semitic, racist and sexist comments. Those three assbags in the film and the guy driving should have their pictures on the cover of every periodical in the world with the title, RACIST, SEXIST, ANTI-SEMITES! What everyone has seemed to miss is that these are not good people, and Cohen brought that out in his film. In this %u201Cgreat%u201D litigious society in which we now live, those two assbags will probably win something or the studio will settle with them, that my friends is the unfortunate thing. I say f***%u2019em and way to go Sacha! By the way frats are not elite social clubs, they are for douche-bag, elitist-in-their-owned-warped-mind, followers who don%u2019t have a mind or original thought of their own.

Posted at 9:27AM on Nov 10th 2006 by Aaron

84. #65 is right on the money. Sacha/Borat didn't make these guys say ignorant comments THEY MADE THEM! As someone who has seen the movie and enjoyed Sacha Baron Cohen's brand of comedy since his Ali G days, he makes the people he interviews think they are dealing with an "idiot" in this case a foreigner who tells them he comes from a place that is very different from America. Sacha Baron Cohen sets them up to hang themselves. I'm sure certain things in the movie were staged and set up but the dialog from the "victims" is their own. As well even if they thought that the movie would never be released in America why say such things? Perhaps because they believe them?
Lastly, the Borat movie has had months of PR, they had a good 4 months to file a lawsuit and prevent the movie from coming out, but they waited to see what the box office take would be.

They should be ashamed of themselves.

Posted at 8:22PM on Nov 12th 2006 by Brandy

85. I noted the motor home types were from SC; small wonder they're suing, given dismal the job prospects they'll face if they manage to graduate. But that's no excuse for being a puss.

Posted at 9:50AM on Nov 10th 2006 by Gen-X

86. Wait.. the drunken frat boys were pissed at being portrayed as drunked frat boys? Poor little thetas.

Posted at 9:50AM on Nov 10th 2006 by jojo

87. The answer to the complaint should begin: "John Doe #1 and John Doe #2 are a**holes."

Posted at 9:58AM on Nov 10th 2006 by Mike

88. Before all of you proceed with your clever attempts at cliche fraternity bashing, realize that not every frat boy conforms to your ignorant stereotypes. I neither agree with the racist and sexist comments made by the Chi Psi members, nor do I think that they deserve any compensation. They are responsible for their own actions during their fifteen minutes of fame, and I don't feel bad for them at all. I do feel bad for all of you who are still holding grudges against those Frats that either didn't give you a bid or whose members screwed you over in a relationship.

Posted at 5:24PM on Nov 10th 2006 by Veritas

89. I saw the movie.......NOBODY made these guys act like douche-bags, they did it to themselves.

Posted at 11:03AM on Nov 10th 2006 by Scott Gould

90. Can you really sue for being stupid??
Rod

Posted at 10:33AM on Nov 10th 2006 by Rod

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