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Matters of Taste

Will Michael Jackson Remain a Brüno Punchline?

Written by S.T. VanAirsdale | 26 Jun 2009, 7:20 AM | 9 comments

sbc_bruno_mj.jpgI guess it’s not a spoiler if the scene doesn’t make the final cut, but be warned anyway: Universal lifted a Michael Jackson-related sequence from Brüno just hours before the film’s premiere Thursday night — which happened to be just hours after the King of Pop was confirmed dead at age 50. The studio and the filmmakers have about a week to decide which version they’ll ship to theaters for the July 10 release; more scene specifics and an admittedly vague reaction from director Larry Charles after the jump.

Uni still has a pretty ironclad embargo in effect through Monday, so let it suffice to say that the bit in question involves Brüno, LaToya Jackson, four Mexicans and the Austrian model/TV host’s impassioned (and very funny) plea for access to Michael Jackson. And it’s not an especially brief sequence, either; under these circumstances, what might be groan-inducing at just a few seconds long is undoubtedly squirm material as drawn out by Sacha Baron Cohen.

It was apparently a no-brainer for Charles and Baron Cohen to snip the scene after hearing the grim news Thursday afternoon, and why not (particularly after the Brüno red carpet covered the late pop idol’s star on the Walk of Fame at the least opportune time)? It’s kind of unnecessary in context, with Brüno now going from his infamous Paula Abdul interview straight into his soon-to-be-infamous focus-group scene. Charles, meanwhile, told THR that he and the studio would revisit the material next week to see what might work for the wide release. But if I were you, I’d wait for the DVD. If there’s a textbook definition of “too soon,” this is probably it.

· Michael Jackson bit cut from Brüno [Risky Biz/THR]

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Tagged: bruno, larry charles, michael jackson, sacha baron cohen, universal

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Comments

From MCU | Reply
Posted 26 Jun 2009, 9:01 AM

And if we know Sacha Baron Cohen (and we know Sacha Baron Cohen), he's undoubtedly been thinking for the last 24 hours: "Why is this happening to me?"

From unicornfandance | Reply
Posted 26 Jun 2009, 9:24 AM

this: "Brüno, LaToya Jackson, four Mexicans"sounds like the set up to a really bad joke. OR an awesome macgruber contraption for disabling this bomb

From Charles | Reply
Posted 27 Jun 2009, 5:03 AM

While the skits, jokes, etc floating about right now may be in bad taste, it's comedy. I don't think they should have pulled the act but maybe that's why I'm not in charge.

From Slimjim | Reply
Posted 27 Jun 2009, 6:02 AM

Hey MCU,

Never start a sentence with 'And'.

From D. Willingham | Reply
Posted 27 Jun 2009, 8:25 AM

Does anyone remember Michael Jackson admitting in an interview he laid in bed naked with underage, and also naked boys? Why is the media treating this man with kid gloves? He was a sick individual with the resources to stay out of jail. Please, remember him as he actually was.

From BUT | Reply
Posted 27 Jun 2009, 11:29 AM

And why not, slimjim?

From Craig S | Reply
Posted 27 Jun 2009, 12:04 PM

^ Naked? Why are you making stuff up? How come when I watched the interview I didn't hear that?

From zon | Reply
Posted 27 Jun 2009, 3:41 PM

He made thriller. The least we can give him is little boys.

From guy | Reply
Posted 27 Jun 2009, 3:48 PM

its a movie comment box. who cares douche

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