Brüno’ Actor Shucks Clothes for Gay Mag Cover

Posted on July 3, 2009
Filed Under Uncategorized

Homophobic Film Ever Made?” That’s the blurb on the cover of Attitude, a British gay magazine, where comedian Sacha Baron Cohen, posing nude to promote his new film, appears.

The film in question–and the name of the character, whom Cohen continues to portray in live promotional appearances–is Brüno, in which Cohen plays a gay fashionista seeking redemption during a global road trip.

The production reportedly drew trouble for Cohen, who was arrested several times during the shoot.

But the film’s reception has also been mixed, with dubious and even hostile reactions coming from the GLBT community.

Though the film reportedly seeks to skewer homophobia, some GLBT equality advocates worry that “Brüno” will actually threaten social progress made by gays in the last several years by presenting audiences with a flamboyant gay character.

A July 1 article at the UK newspaper The Daily Mail reported that Cohen’s appearance on the cover of Attitude was meant to “appease” gay audiences.

The article pointed out that Cohen also appeared nude on the cover of GQ magazine.

Last month, Cohen appeared at the film’s London premiere in character, and in a revealing costume that riffed on the traditional uniforms of the Queen’s Guards, drawing headlines in the process. See Brüno’ Actor Shucks Clothes for Gay Mag Cover

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