Toilet humour lands comic character Borat in bother

AN AMERICAN man claims he was “accosted” by the star of the spoof documentary Borat — alias comedian Sacha Baron Cohen — while using the toilet at an upmarket restaurant last year, according to a lawsuit.

It is the latest of several lawsuits filed since the release of Borat: Cultural Learnings Of America For Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan.

The scene with the man, who was not identified in the lawsuit, does not appear in the hit movie but has been shown on Comedy Central and various video-sharing websites, said Columbia lawyer Jonathan Milling.

“He has been contacted by numerous people who have recognised him,” Mr Milling said.

The plaintiff, a South Carolina resident, says the comedian — also famous for the comic creation Ali G — posed as a bathroom attendant at Ristorante Divino in October 2005, invading his privacy and staring as he used a urinal, according to the lawsuit.

“He is embarrassed and humiliated and leaves the restaurant,” Mr Milling said of his client.

The plaintiff was told a crew was filming a documentary on tourism but he never saw cameras, which were hidden in the toilet, according to the lawsuit. The lawsuit makes no mention of a consent waiver.

The man is seeking punitive damages and is asking that the scene not be put on DVD.

A judge in Los Angeles last week rejected a request by two South Carolina fraternity brothers to block the DVD release of the movie.

The judge also refused to order the removal of a scene that includes the two men, who claim they had been duped into misbehaving on camera.

The pair sued on November 9, claiming they were tricked into making racist and sexist remarks to Mr Cohen in the movie.

The movie has been a surprise hit at the box office, earning over €75.7 million.

Louis Petrich, a lawyer for 20th Century Fox and One America Productions, did not immediately return a call seeking comment.