No Laughing Matter: Brüno Re-Sued for Emotional Damages

The alleged victim of a Bruno beatdown revamped her suit against Sacha Baron Cohen and NBC Universal

By Brandi Fowler Jul 12, 2009 1:29 AMTags
Bruno, Sacha Baron CohenUniversal

At this rate, Brüno must think he's the one getting punk'd. 

Yet again, the target of one of Sacha Baron Cohen's practical jokes is attempting to laugh all the way to the bank with the prankster's dough.

First, Richelle Olson sued the self-proclaimed fashionista for a Bingo-based beatdown. Now she's singing a different tune and accusing him of wheelchair-binding "emotional distress."

We wish we were joking...

Initially, Olson claimed the Brüno film crew told her the Austrian was a celeb and would attend her 2007 charity bingo game in Palmdale, Calif., to call numbers. The person who showed up—the flamboyant and outrageous fashion diva—was not who she expected or wanted. 

Olson claimed Cohen caused a big disturbance during the number calls and the comedian got into a physical altercation with her when she tried to grab the mic from him, causing her to fall on the ground. Olson said she was so distraught that she went into a back room, passed out and fell again, this time hitting her head.  

That supposed tumble caused a diagnosis of "two brain bleeds," according to Olson, which left her confined to a wheelchair and walker.

But after Olson's lawyer watched the taped footage of the alleged event, her camp quickly changed their tune and amended the lawsuit. 

Olson dropped her charges of assault and battery against against Cohen and NBC Universal, and is now setting her sights on the "emotional distress" the Brüno star and his film crew allegedly caused when they sent Brüno to her charity bingo tournament, according to THR, Esq.

The Bingo monger is suing for unspecified damages. In an ironic twist of fate, her un-staged scene didn't even make the film's final cut. 

Sigh. Where is Lutz—Brüno's love struck assistant--when you need him?

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