Sacha Baron Cohen is reportedly being sued by a cameraman who claims he was roughed up by the comedian’s film crew nearly 2 years ago.
According to various sources, Mike Skiff (a self described gay journalist in Los Angeles) is seeking more than $25,000 in damages, medcial expenses and attorney’s fees, and alleges that he suffered physical and emotional pain when he was shoved, pulled and threatened while shooting footage of Cohen as his “Bruno” character at a gay marriage rally back in 2008.
In the court documents, Skiff alleges that he was “injured in his health, strength and activity, sustaining injury to his body and shock and injury to his nervous system and person, all of which injuries causes and continue to cause Plaintiff great physical, mental and emotion pain and suffering.”
“Bruno” centers around a gay Austrian fashion journalist, and the plaintiff (Mr. Skiff) believes that the production team incited violence at the rally (ahead of an important vote on gay marriage in L.A.) in order to promote their movie. He also suggests that the production violated his civil rights. The lawsuit (obtained by RadarOnline.com) states:
“In order to create dramatic content for its production, Bruno Productions’ intent was to promote violent discord between the assembled yes and no factions. In stark contrast with the ‘ultra gay’ Bruno character, members of the crew of Bruno Productions carried ‘Yes On Proposition 8’ signs contrived for the sole purpose of inciting and sparking unrest to enhance the dramatic effect of what they may capture on film.”
Sacha Baron Cohen, who is pretty used to controversy (even bigger than this), has yet to respond to this story…
