"Bruno" Sued - Not By Eminem!

[Olson was told that 'Bruno' was a celebrity and would call the numbers at a charity bingo game she ran for the elderly in Palmdale, California.  She was surprised when Cohen arrived dressed as an "extreme, outrageous, offensive caricature of a gay man dressed in sexually revealing clothing with and Austrian accent."  When he began using "vulgar and offensive language" she tried to grab the microphone from him and claims a "physical struggle ensued."

The papers allege that Cohen "offensively touched, pushed and battered" Olson, causing her to fall to the ground, where camera operators filming the event rushed on to the stage and "attacked (her) for a period of one to five minutes to intentionally create a dramatic emotional response...while (they) recorded her humiliation and embarrassment."

Olson says she was so upset by the incident that she left the room and passed out "falling forward onto the thinly covered concrete slab causing her to hit her head."  Olson was admitted to the hospital where she was diagnosed with "two brain bleeds" and claims she has been confined to a wheelchair and walker since the incident.]

I would assume that filming proceeded with a hefty amount of insurance in place for such an occasion. Everyone who participates in the Baron Cohen films must sign a release form. Sacha was also sued by a variety of parties for his previous character-driven film, Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan. I'm guessing "Bruno's" team is ready to deal with the inevitable, given the producer's previous experience...

[Photo Credit: Sacha Baron Cohen as Bruno]