News / Entertainment
“Borat” Facing Yet another Lawsuit, Businessman Claims “Public Ridicule, Degradation and Humiliation”
For the millions of people who saw Sacha Baron Cohen portray the Kazakhstani reporter Borat in 2006’s “Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan” the scene where a New York businessman is seen running down the street in an attempt to avoid an embrace is locked into memory.
With briefcase in tow, the man ran down Manhattan’s Fifth Avenue screaming “go away, go away” while Borat pursued him, looking for a hug. Now, nearly a year later that businessman, Jeffrey Lemerond, is suing 20th Century Fox claiming his civil rights were violated.
The 31-year-old Lemerond has said he has suffered “public ridicule, degradation and humiliation” as a result of the film and he never gave 20th Century Fox permission to use his face in the film.
“Borat” grossed over $250 million in worldwide ticket sales and became one of the most profitable films of all time. Its production costs were a mere $18 million.
In regards to the lawsuit 20th Century Fox doesn’t appear too worried as spokesman Chris Petrikin pointed out, “Consistent with the First Amendment, New York law does not recognize this kind of claim in connection with the 'Borat' movie or other literary works and films that are matters of interest to the public.”
