Brüno Gehard
{{Infobox character
| name = Brüno Gehard
| image = Brünopicture.jpeg
| caption = Sacha Baron Cohen as Brüno Gehard
| image_size = 230px
| series = Sacha Baron Cohen
| first = Da Ali G Show (2003)
| last = Brüno (2009)
| aliases = Straight Dave
| gender = Male
| occupation = Fashion reporter, fashion journalist
| children = OJ (adopted son)
| significant_other = Lutz Schulze
| nationality = Austrian
| creator = Sacha Baron Cohen
| portrayer = Sacha Baron Cohen
}}
Brüno Gehard ({{IPA|de|ˈbryːnoː ɡəˈhart}} {{Respell|GAY|hard}}; sometimes spelled Bruno or Brueno) is a satirical fictional character portrayed by English comedian Sacha Baron Cohen. A flamboyantly gay fashion reporter from Austria, Brüno first appeared during short sketches on Paramount Comedy 1 in 1998, before reappearing on a 2003 episode of Da Ali G Show. Following the success of Ali G Indahouse and Borat, Universal Studios gained the rights to produce and release a 2009 feature film about the character, also called Brüno.{{cite web|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/film/news/e3iSvX2Mh9HIlJpLf4wFLDFig%3D%3D|title=Hollywood Reporter "Uni wins 'Brüno' auction for $42.5 mil"|website=hollywoodreporter.com|access-date=6 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061214033432/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/film/news/e3iSvX2Mh9HIlJpLf4wFLDFig%3D%3D|archive-date=2006-12-14|url-status=dead}} The character has since been retired.[http://uk.news.yahoo.com/1/20090719/ten-cohen-puts-bruno-to-bed-c60bd6d.html Yahoo News: Cohen puts Bruno to bed] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090722165356/http://uk.news.yahoo.com/1/20090719/ten-cohen-puts-bruno-to-bed-c60bd6d.html |date=July 22, 2009 }} Yahoo, 18 July 2009[http://www.contactmusic.com/news.nsf/story/cohen-puts-bruno-to-bed_1110132 Sacha Baron Cohen{{snd}}Cohen Puts Bruno To Bed] ContactMusic.com, 18 July 2009.{{explain|reason=Physical or mental?|date=May 2024}}
Eminem incident
In May 2009, Brüno appeared at the MTV Movie Awards, dressed as an angel with wings strapped to his buttocks as he descended on wires from the ceiling. As part of a prank, after an alleged equipment malfunction, he was lowered onto rapper Eminem who was seated directly beneath him. Brüno landed in Eminem's lap in a 69-esque position, with his exposed buttocks in Eminem's face. Members of D12 helped to remove Brüno. Eminem and D12 then stormed out of the ceremony. Eminem appeared surprised and angry about the prank, but both he and Baron Cohen later claimed that the incident had been staged and rehearsed by the two. Eminem told reporters that he laughed uncontrollably for three hours in his hotel room afterward.{{Cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2009/06/04/eminem-laughed-for-three-hours-after-staged-bruno-stunt/ |title="Eminem: I Laughed for 3 Hours Over Stunt" |magazine=Rolling Stone |access-date=2017-12-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090811002053/http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2009/06/04/eminem-laughed-for-three-hours-after-staged-bruno-stunt/ |archive-date=2009-08-11 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |url=http://www.rapradar.com/qa/rr-exclusive-eminem-speaks-on-mtv-stunt-and-robbery-rumors.html |title=RR Exclusive: Eminem Speaks On MTV Stunt & Robbery Rumors |publisher=Rap Radar |date=2009-06-03 |access-date=2012-01-27 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090611145620/http://www.rapradar.com/qa/rr-exclusive-eminem-speaks-on-mtv-stunt-and-robbery-rumors.html |archive-date=2009-06-11 }}
Reaction
The 2009 feature film Brüno was well received by The Guardian, who described him as "howlingly funny, staggeringly rude, brutally incorrect and very often just brilliant".{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2009/jul/10/film-review-bruno|title=Bruno{{snd}}film review|date=July 10, 2009|access-date=July 11, 2009|work=The Guardian|location=London|first=Peter|last=Bradshaw}}
= LGBT response =
Some LGBT groups have criticized the character as perpetuating LGBT stereotypes.{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idUSTRE55G06P20090617|title=Cohen camps it up as Queen's guard for UK premiere|first1=Cindy|last1=Martin|first2=Mike|last2=Collett-White|website=reuters.com|date=17 June 2009|access-date=6 November 2018}} "Sacha Baron Cohen's well-meaning attempt at satire is problematic in many places and outright offensive in others," Rashad Robinson, senior director of media programmes for the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) told The New York Times.{{cite web|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/Movies/06/18/bruno.baron.cohen/|title='Vassup!' 'Bruno' hits the carpet for London premiere|first=Mairi|last=Mackay|website=CNN|access-date=6 November 2018}}
= Ayman Abu Aita lawsuit =
Baron Cohen appeared as Brüno on Late Show with David Letterman in July 2009,{{cite news|last=Marshall|first=Tim|title=Bruno 'Terrorist': Producers Cheated Me|publisher=Sky News|date=2009-07-30|url=http://news.sky.com/home/world-news/article/15349131|access-date=2012-05-24}} where he made reference to Ayman Abu Aita (whom Brüno interviewed in the film) as a terrorist. Abu Aita was identified in the film as a member of al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades,{{cite news|last=Mackey|first=Robert|title=Did a Fake Interview With a 'Real Terrorist' in 'Brüno' Cross a Line?|work=New York Times|date=2009-08-06|url=http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/08/06/did-a-fake-interview-with-a-terrorist-in-bruno-cross-a-line/|access-date=2012-05-24}} a Palestinian terrorist organization responsible for numerous suicide bombings.{{cite news| url=http://premium.edition.cnn.com/2002/WORLD/meast/03/02/jerusalem.bomb/| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110708171458/http://premium.edition.cnn.com/2002/WORLD/meast/03/02/jerusalem.bomb/| url-status=dead| archive-date=July 8, 2011|publisher=CNN|title=Jerusalem bombing kills 9 bystanders|date=2 March 2002}} Abu Aita claimed that he was never a member of the group, though he had identified as such in a 2002 Boston Globe article.{{cite news|last=Nissenbaum|first=Dion|title=Palestinian 'terrorist' plans suit over unwitting role in 'Bruno'|agency=McClatchy Newspapers|date=2009-07-16|url=http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2009/07/16/71988/palestinian-terrorist-plans-suit.html|access-date=2012-05-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130206041841/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2009/07/16/71988/palestinian-terrorist-plans-suit.html|archive-date=2013-02-06|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|last=Shadid|first=Anthony|title=Fatah's Young Militants Vow to Fight on|newspaper=Boston Globe|date=2002-03-23}} He had also served two years in an Israeli prison for his role in the Second Intifada. Abu Aita made plans to sue, saying that he was misled and that he did not sign release forms for the footage of him that appeared in the film.The Guardian, 31 July 2009, [https://www.theguardian.com/world/2009/jul/31/bruno-israel-terrorist The non-profit worker from Bethlehem who was branded a terrorist by Bruno] Baron Cohen increased his security detail after WorldNetDaily claimed to receive a statement from al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades threatening his life following the premiere of the film.[http://jta.org/news/article/2009/07/28/1006866/palestinian-group-threatens-sacha-baron-cohen#When:18:40:00Z "Palestinian group threatens Sacha Baron Cohen."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090731123032/http://jta.org/news/article/2009/07/28/1006866/palestinian-group-threatens-sacha-baron-cohen#When:18:40:00Z |date=2009-07-31 }} JTA. 28 July 2009. In December 2009, Abu Aita sued Baron Cohen and Letterman at a federal court in Washington, D.C.{{cite news|last=Zongker|first=Brett|title=Ayman Abu Aita Sues 'Bruno,' Letterman For $110M|work=Huffington Post|date=2009-12-09|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/12/09/ayman-abu-aita-sues-bruno_n_386294.html|access-date=2012-05-24}} In November 2010, the lawsuit was dismissed in D.C. so it could be refiled in the Supreme Court of New York,[http://iapps.courts.state.ny.us/iscroll/SQLData.jsp?IndexNo=102524-2011# Supreme Court Records Online Library], case 102524-2011 which also dismissed it in July 2012.
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Sacha Baron Cohen}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gehard, Bruno}}
Category:Male characters in film
Category:Male characters in television
Category:Comedy television characters
Category:Fictional Austrian people
Category:Television characters introduced in 1998
Category:Fictional interviewers
Category:Fictional reporters and correspondents
Category:Fictional television personalities
Category:Fictional LGBTQ characters in film
Category:Fictional LGBTQ characters in television
Category:Fictional people in fashion