Fraternity boys sue movie studio over appearance in "Borat"

San Jose Mercury News ^ | Nov. 10, 2006

[Wolfie]

Fraternity boys sue movie studio over appearance in "Borat"

SANTA MONICA, Calif. - The joke was on two unsuspecting fraternity boys who thought they were being interviewed by a Kazakh reporter named Borat and made racist and sexist comments on camera.

But now that they've learned their encounter would appear in the No. 1 movie "Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan," they're not laughing anymore.

A lawsuit filed Thursday on their behalf claims they were duped into appearing in the spoof documentary and "engaged in behavior that they otherwise would not have engaged in."

"Borat" follows the adventures of comedian Sacha Baron Cohen's Kazakh journalist character in a blend of fiction and improvised comic encounters as he travels across the United States and mocks Americans.

The plaintiffs were not named in the lawsuit "to protect themselves from any additional and unnecessary embarrassment." They were identified in the movie as fraternity members from a South Carolina university, and appeared drunk as they made insulting comments about women and minorities to Cohen's character.

The lawsuit claims that in October 2005, a production crew took the students to a bar to drink and "loosen up" before participating in what they were told would be a documentary 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 the plaintiffs' attorney, Olivier Taillieu. "They were put into an RV and were made to believe they were picking up Borat the hitchhiker."

[U S Army EOD]

Well that was Canada's plan of landing on the sun, just do it at night.

[Andy'smom]

My daughter is a freshman at Clemson and she loves it.

[toldyou]

So happy for her! She made a good choice!

[freedomdefender]

I haven't seen it, but from what I've read, the point of the "joke" is to show Americans to be secret racists and anti-semites. Not very funny. Not very friendly to America. And not very true. (Which is why they would have to get people liquored, or set up in other ways, up in order to coax the desired vulgarity)

[freedomdefender]

This individual's "humor" is thinly veiled hate vomited over his targets, which in general is all of Western society.

That's the impression I get, from reading articles about the movie. Mr. Cohen set out to "expose" Americans as bigots. A bigoted thing to do, on his part, it seems to me. With enough trickery, you could set up people from any country, and "expose" them the same way.

[amchugh]

I don't have a TV, what is wrong with L&O:SVU?

[freedomdefender]

Leave it to the piss poor University of South Carolina to continue to make our state look bad.

No, it was Mr. Cohen who made your state look bad, by setting these kids up. I wonder how many people he filmed who WOULDN't say racist things. His aim appears to have been to make your state look bad, so he broadcasts the bad apples (or stupid apples). I'd like to see someone try the same thing on, say, one of his family members. Anybody could be hoodwinked into looking stupid, if the "producers" use enough guile.

[rintense]

I saw his interview of Andy Rooney on Da Ali G Show and almost peed my pants. There is no way Rooney knew it was satire. Hell, even Pat Buchanan was fun to watch, but I think he knew it was a farce. Still funny though.

[Stone Mountain]

What's so bizarre is that it's a comedy that makes you uneasy, yet splits your gut. It's a combination I've never seen before.

He is the very personification of the Steve Martin line, "Comedy is not pretty!"

[Dr. Scarpetta]

even Pat Buchanan was fun to watch, but I think he knew it was a farce.

What did Pat Buchanan do in the movie?

[rintense]

He was on Da Ali G Show.

[Gondring]

"...you betta learn these things from my man, Buzz Lightyear, here!"

[VOA]

The lawsuit claims that in October 2005, a production crew took the
students to a bar to drink and "loosen up" before participating in what
they were told would be a documentary to be shown outside of the
United States.

"Counselor, on the face of it, your case is simply silly. By their intimation
that they were at some point in time sober, these two fellows couldn't
possibly be frat boys.
Case DIS-MISSED!"

[Recon Dad]

I have not seen it yet, but plan to. My son saw it and when asked by his mother whether she should see it, she was told no. You lack a sense of humor. I on the other hand think South Park is great.

[MadIvan]

If you want to get a flavour of the humour, try the Borat website:

www.borat.tv

Regards, Ivan

[Hildy]

Isn't it amazing what people will do if they think nobody they know will see or hear them?

[Recon Dad]

Thanks, I think the guys great, but I have the sense of humor of a 10 year old.

[trumandogz]

Guess these frat boys are afraid that their future careers in the hedge fund industry are going to be harmed by this.

I hope so!

[Jet Jaguar]

Kappa Alpha Psi

I am told.

[SuziQ]

Most would NOT want to have their kids or mom's see it with them.. It is that kind of movie.

Sounds like the movie Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle. I ended up watching that one with our 26 yr. old son and 18 yr. old daughter. She and I were horrified by some of it, but parts of it were funny! Not one of those I'd watch again, though.