Brüno's High School Football Brouhaha

Wed., Jul. 1, 2009 9:00 AM PDT by Josh Grossberg

Ze fashionpolizei is facing off with the football police.

The kids loved it and had a ball, but that didn't stop the Los Angeles Unified School District from punishing the principal and athletic director of a local high school for allowing its football team to pose for some hilarious photographs with Sacha Baron Cohen in the guise of Brüno.

Players from the Birmingham High School squad in Van Nuys are featured in a spread alongside the cinematic prankster in this month's GQ magazine, whose cover sports a naked Brüno.

In a series of images on the inside, the funnyman is dressed in tight red underwear with a white cup, cleats, knee-high socks and shoulder pads while baring his midriff, playing with his pigskin and leading players in various drills on the field.

But the photos didn't exactly crack up the district's superintendent, Ramon Cortines, who labeled them "provocative" and "inappropriate" and said they violated rules regarding commercial film shoots on school grounds.

As a result, the super brought down the hammer on Birmingham principal Marsha Coates and athletic director Rick Prizant.

"I don't believe there is a place on any high school campus in America, including Los Angeles, for photos such as these," Cortines said in a statement.

An investigation by the district found that despite student participants obtaining parental consent for the April 16 shoot, the release form didn't specifically address the nature of the images.

Cortines said he wanted parents to know the district was looking out for the "best interest of their children" and officials were using "good judgment before putting students in front of the camera."

"Rules were broken. The principal is ultimately responsible, but I also hold accountable the athletic director, who is also the school's filming coordinator and was present when the pictures were taken," the superintendent added.

Cortines would not elaborate on the disciplinary measures they'll face, citing privacy laws in regards to personnel matters.

"But, I want you to know that I will not tolerate the failure of any employee to follow the proper procedures that govern how, when or if LAUSD students will be photographed or filmed," he said. "I also want parents to know that this district will allow no one to take advantage of their students."

Brüno is due out July 10.