Sacha Baron Cohen and his alter-ego Gay Bruno are off the hook for allegedly causing "life-altering injuries" to a woman at a charity bingo tournament two years ago, according to
US. The plaintiff Richelle Olson, executive director of California's Desert Valley Charities, claimed she suffered brain injuries following a scuffle with Cohen, who was dressed as Bruno at the time. She said that Bruno, Cohen's over-the-top Austrian gay character, had ambushed her on stage. She is seeking $25,000 in damages, alleging she was diagnosed with "two brain bleeds," and that she has been confined to a wheelchair and a walker since the incident.
But executives at Universal Pictures released a statement Friday that read:
"The allegations made by Richelle and Lance Olson in their complaint are completely baseless. Filmed footage of the full encounter, which took place more than two years ago, clearly shows that Ms. Olson was never touched or in any way assaulted by Sacha Baron Cohen or any member of the production and suffered no injury. If the Olsons elect to proceed with their frivolous action, we expect each of the defendants to be fully vindicated."
