Frat Boys Sue Makers Of Borat Over Appearance In Hit Movie
Posted November 10, 2006 12:00 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Two American fraternity boys who appeared in the hit mockumentary featuring British comedian Sacha Baron Cohen’s Kazakh journalist character on a road trip across the U.S. have launched a lawsuit against the filmmakers.
The men, who appeared drunk in the movie, claim they were duped into their small but memorable role. In the scene, the college students picked up a hitchhiking Borat on the side of the road and proceeded to make racist and sexist remarks in his presence – and on camera. They were identified in the film only as fraternity members from a South Carolina university.
The lawsuit contends the students “engaged in behaviour that they otherwise would not have engaged in.”
It claims they were approached by a production crew ahead of filming, in October 2005, and taken to a bar to drink and “loosen up.” The students suggest they were told they’d be part of a documentary that was going to be shown outside of the United States.
“They were induced to agree to participate and were told the name of the fraternity and the name of their school wouldn’t be used,” said their lawyer, Olivier Taillieu. “They were put into an RV and were made to believe they were picking up Borat the hitchhiker.”
After drinking the men reportedly signed a release form they were told “had something to do with reliability issues with being in the RV,” Taillieu said.
Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan features fictional and improvised scenes in which the Kazakh character makes jokes at Americans’ expense.
After the film was released in theatres across North America a week ago the plaintiffs became “the object of ridicule, humiliation, mental anguish and emotional and physical distress, loss of reputation, goodwill and standing in the community,” the lawsuit said.
The pair wasn’t identified in the suit “to protect themselves from any additional and unnecessary embarrassment.” They’re seeking an injunction to stop their image and likeness from being displayed as well as monetary damages.
Named in the lawsuit are studio 20th Century Fox, and three production companies. Gregg Brilliant, from Fox, said the lawsuit “has no merit.”
Borat debuted as last weekend’s top film with a take of $26.5 million.
