Bruno: Michael Jackson jokes no longer funny [Updated]

Updated with Universal Statement.

Comedian Sacha Baron Cohen is a fearless, equal-opportunity offender, but when it comes to jokes about Michael Jackson in Cohen's new film "Bruno," there apparently are limits: at the last minute, "Bruno's" filmmakers have cut out a sequence about Jackson and his sister, La Toya.

When the film was shown to audiences several weeks ago, "Bruno" included a scene where Cohen's title character -- a flamboyant Austrian fashion journalist -- conducts staged interviews with C-list celebrities, including Paula Abdul and La Toya Jackson. When Cohen's Bruno character is interviewing La Toya, he asks about Michael Jackson and then takes La Toya's personal digital assistant and begins looking for Michael's telephone number.

Cohen then begins dictating some numbers in German to an assistant (the suggestion is that they are Michael's phone number) as La Toya becomes increasingly alarmed by Cohen's conduct, which includes using kneeling Mexican laborers as chairs). Soon thereafter, La Toya leaves in the middle of the interview.

But when "Bruno" was shown to Hollywood insiders at the film's Thursday night premiere, the scene was nowhere to be found. The sequence was apparently deleted between Michael Jackson's death in the middle of the afternoon and the commencement of the screening around 8 p.m.

Universal Studios, the film's producer and distributor, issued a statement saying the scene was removed out of respect to the Jackson family.

-- John Horn

Comments

[Hillary]

On the one hand, I kind of think it's bogus that there's this sudden censorship, but perhaps when one is a public figure like Jimmy Kimmel or "Bruno" AKA Mr. Cohen, it's for the best. Since MJ's death, I’ve been hearing a lot of snickering and off-color joke telling, alongside all the breast-beating and mourning. I just wonder if how people are remembering Michael Jackson really reflects how they felt about him during his life, and whether it’s honest that we’re suddenly celebrating him so overwhelmingly. People like Jimmy Kimmel go too far, I think, mocking Jackson in the public spotlight and in poor taste as he did last night on his show, but frankly, who among us hasn’t told a Jacko joke or two? We’re talking about the ethics of Michael Jackson jokes on my blog: http://blog.beliefnet.com/everydayethics/2009/06/are-michael-jackson-jokes-suddenly-bad.html#more

[Pico RIvera]

Um.. yes they are...
and i want to see the full clip. La Toya is one of the funniest people to watch. period.

[Esther Lemire]

my prayer are with the family, I have been with Michael from mine country El Salvador, I did not know what he what singing back in the late 70 but I use to sing along with him, and dance all the songs it helped me to get A in my class of English.
I'm going to miss him very much, may the Lord bless all the family, and i thank you for giving us a wonderful son that was you're kids for me I have only 2 but I know that the Lord bless you so we can be bless too. thank you very much take care off you're self all the " Jackson family"
From Esther Lemire in Yuba City, CA

[jeanie]

Maybe everyone who thinks Michael Jackson was a freak show plus child molester are just keeping their mouths shut but my first thought was at least he's not going to molest any more boys. It's amazing to me how talent and/or fame let people off the hook for bad behavior (he famously didn't pay bills, slept with little boys 'innocently' behind locked doors and all kinds of security equipment and on and on. I think it is sad that he had life experiences which led to his disfiguring his face and his dad & mom have a lot to answer for in what they did to their kids, but monetarily stiffing so many people (I wonder how they feel about him?) and sleeping with small boys with their parents permission (after giving them a lot of money etc) ..how can people just brush that all off? I actually believe his fanatic followers would have let it go even if they had witnessed him molesting a child. Apparently fame and talent give a person license to use whoever they want however they want.

[jeanie]

and MY prayers are not with the family; they enabled his out-of-control behavior at the same time as envying it.

[Alicia]

In regards to the comment by Hillary. "On the one hand, I kind of think it's bogus that there's this sudden censorship", it's neither censorship nor bogus, it IS a business decision and they have every right to make it.

No government entity forced the removal of the scene in question and therefore it was not "censored".

Entertainment companies make those choices everyday, just so happens in this case it's in response to the death of a cultural icon.

I feel sad for his kids, they are going to have to hear all the things that are being said about their father, but Michael Jackson had choices and those choices had consequences. His legacy was crafted by his own actions.

[Big Sam]

Sacha Baron Cohen is offensive. He is not funny. And if the American sense of humor has degenerated to make him a comedic icon, then, I truly feel sorry for this country and what it has become.

[Little Sam]

Very well put Alicia. Big Sam... Not so smart if you're responding to Alicia. Maybe we will see you in Cohen's next film.

[Paul]

This movie is not for everyone. But if you liked Borat and Ali G, you will LOVE this. I thought it was hilarious. I saw a screening before MJ's death so it included the LaToya scene which was pretty funny. Here's my full review as well as more details about the Latoya scene. Enjoy!

http://thecorner33.blogspot.com/2009/07/bruno.html