Sacha Baron Cohen is suing an American cannabis dispensary for allegedly using his comedy character Borat in its advertising.
The 49-year-old British film star is seeking damages of at least $ 9 million (£ 6.5 million), according to a lawsuit filed in the US state of Massachusetts.
He accuses Solar Therapeutics of copyright infringement and false advertising.
The lawsuit alleges the ad featured Baron Cohen as Borat, thumbing up with the words “that’s cool!”
It was placed on a busy highway in Massachusetts.
Borat is one of Baron Cohen’s most famous characters – a clumsy fictional Kazakh journalist who offends almost anyone he meets in two hugely popular films.
Baron Cohen’s lawyer said Solar Therapeutics had made “a bet”, hoping the actor would not see the ad.
According to the Hollywood Reporter, the attorney sent a cease and desist letter to the cannabis company.
The billboard had been removed but the company refused to compensate Baron Cohen for the unauthorized use of his image.
Solar Therapeutics did not comment.
In the lawsuit, Baron Cohen said he had never used cannabis because it was an “unhealthy choice”.
He also said he refused to advertise a product in the US and UK “despite countless opportunities to do so”, fearing that it “would weaken his credibility as an actor and serious social activist “.
The lawsuit said he had previously turned down an offer of £ 2.9million to appear in a car ad.
Although several states in the United States have given the green light to cannabis, it is still illegal under federal law.
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Source: news.sky.com
This notice was published: 2021-07-13 02:26:00
