Forget About Reputations, Now Sacha Baron Cohen is Being Sued for Physical Injury
Filed under: Celebrities and Controversy
With the assumed exception of Isla Fisher and Olive Cohen, I bet there's no one that Sacha Baron Cohen wouldn't torment with his outlandish alter egos. He's nabbed the ignorant, the rich and famous, and the less fortunate. Just the other day, he firmly planted his crotch in Eminem's face at the MTV Movie Awards. But for the most part, it's always been bruised egos and relationships in his wake -- not physical damage.But all that's changing. TMZ reports that a woman named Richelle Olson is suing Cohen, NBC Universal, and others after suffering serious physical injuries during one of his stunts at a Bingo hall in 2007. Using the guise of a celebrity who was willing to call numbers at the hall, Cohen showed up as Bruno -- who Olson accurately describes as an "extreme, outrageous, offensive caricature of a gay man dressed in sexually revealing clothing with an Austrian accent." He used offensive language, she tried to regain control of the mic, and a struggle resulted where she was "offensively touched, pushed, and battered." This sent her into tears. She then fell unconscious, hit a concrete slab, suffered brain bleeds, and now needs a wheelchair and walker to move around. Just to make it all the worse, TMZ followed up with Bingo friends who say Olson has lost a ton of weight, looks like she's aged 20 years, and continues to fall and hurt herself further.
Unsurprisingly, there's no comment to the allegations at this time, but the turmoil does ask an important question: Just how far should Cohen be able to push the line? Or, do you think there's any line he could cross where satire becomes cruel or inappropriate?
'Ridgemont High' Inspirations Are Now Protective Parents
You Say 'Twilight,' Taylor Swift Says 'Firelight'
Robert Pattinson Talks 'Breaking Dawn' & 'Unbound Captives'
Gwyneth Paltrow Joins Nicole Kidman in 'The Danish Girl'
Discuss: The Movies That Haunt You
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
6-04-2009 @ 11:27AM
kbradsher said...
Sounds like he has crossed that line.
If the story is true; and it should be easy enough to prove as there must have been a bingo hall filled with witnesses, he should do prison time like any other person charged with assault and sexual abuse would.
I hope that the poor woman gets a huge settlement at the very least. And the studio needs to put a leash on this idiot...
Reply
6-04-2009 @ 1:49PM
Jeff said...
The line is anything physical. It doesn't matter what character he's playing, Cohen doesn't have the right physically move someone or even touch them in a way that's against their wishes. That's a violation, and it could lead to a terrible accident. If this woman is telling the truth, then it's safe to say Cohen took a flying leap over the line.
Reply
6-26-2009 @ 3:50PM
anon said...
Yep, the line IS anything physical. And Ms. Olson crossed that line when she initiated physical contact by attempting to grab the microphone away from Sacha. She made the first move; she's at fault. I doubt that he "attacked" her--especially with cameras running. If she was injured by him it was probably accidental and a result of him trying to avoid being touched by her. And besides, the fall that actually resulted in her injuries took place after she left his presence.
6-04-2009 @ 12:05PM
john said...
Taking advantage of people who befriend you and are too polite to curse and kick you to the curb when you show yourself to be an ass loses its humor very quickly for me.
More than once I have hope that Cohen encounters a group that beats him and his bodyguards (he has to film with them) into jelly. That may not end being funny but it would be appropriate.
Reply
6-04-2009 @ 12:07PM
Stan Winsome said...
Ummm I'm sorry but if I make someone cry and then they fall on their own that's not my fault. Now if I push them down down a flight of stairs that's a different story...
Reply
6-04-2009 @ 3:27PM
RTerry said...
Amen!!!
6-04-2009 @ 12:18PM
rbk said...
The merits of this lawsuit aside it's surprising that - outside a New York skirmish - Borat/Bruno/Ali G hasn't received a severe ass-kicking. Dropping your pants, fondling yourself (or the other person) and/or propositioning a guy for sex is just begging for an altercation. And his schtick ceased being funny years ago.
Reply
6-04-2009 @ 12:43PM
Rufus said...
What about the children?!
But yeah, that could easily be an accident turned into a massive retribution law suit. I mean, he may do what he does, but I can't see Cohen getting 'carried away' like a puppy. It seems more likely it went a little off-plan, and an accident occurred... that's life, it happens.
Reply
6-04-2009 @ 3:27PM
Sally said...
"He used offensive language, she tried to regain control of the mic, and a struggle resulted" Hummm did she start the struggle for the mike? Did her own actions lead to her injuries? Sounds like someone trying to make an easy buck.
Reply
6-04-2009 @ 4:27PM
C.A. said...
I doubt her actions lead to the injuries, it was probably Cohen being an ass as usual.
6-04-2009 @ 5:50PM
Kevin said...
CA, thankfully there is a difference between "being an ass" and being legally liable for damages. If she tried to grab the mic away from him and fell over after initiating the contact then no, he is not responsible. I agree with you Sally. It sounds like he was being obnoxious, but based on the description I would say the womans injuries are her own fault...at least legally.
6-04-2009 @ 9:09PM
DylanG said...
Sounds like the old ladies own fault. She, by her own account, attempted to regain control of the mic. It is very likely that she started getting physical and ended up injuring herself. There will be recorded footage of this incident and I'm sure it will prove that Cohen is innocent.
Reply
6-04-2009 @ 5:22PM
Wexler said...
I just read a more detailed description of the incident in the Associated Press.
"A struggle ensued after Olson tried to grab the microphone away from Baron Cohen. She claims he then called his camera crew over, who attacked her for at least a minute, hoping to 'create a dramatic emotional response.'
Olson's suit states she ran from the stage and was found moments later by a co-worker, sobbing uncontrollably. She then fell to the floor, hitting her head on a concrete slab."
I think it's pretty obvious that the actual injury was her own fault. I don't think there is any question that Cohen was being an ass as usual, but whether he and his crew indirectly caused the injury remains to be seen. It would be interesting to see the unedited footage they shot.
I think ultimately it will come down to liability. In the past the cases against Cohen have typically been thrown out because he had people sign contracts before filming, which is what he had Olson do. Apparently the lawsuit seeks to prove she was under duress and that Cohen's crew misrepresented themselves to nullify the validity of the contract.
I'm not really sure what to think, but I'll admit it sounds awfully suspicious that she waited two years to sue him.
Reply
6-04-2009 @ 6:08PM
GL said...
Timing is everything.
6-05-2009 @ 10:57AM
rbk said...
Wexler - "but I'll admit it sounds awfully suspicious that she waited two years to sue him." - Not really. You have a two year window and most people wait until the two years are almost up to assess the injury. Not suspicious at all.
DylanG - "There will be recorded footage of this incident and I'm sure it will prove that Cohen is innocent. " - you're 'sure'? Or you hope? The truth will come out in due time and maybe he will be found 'innocent' but his douchebaggery and increasingly desperate attempts to garner attention and controversy is bound to lead to nothing good. Maybe next time he'll make the mistake of attempting this against someone his own size instead of a little old lady.
Reply