• croatiantimes.com
• romaniantimes.at
• salzburgtimes.at
• viennatimes.at
• austrianindependent.com

Today

• Vienna - VESCC English Catholic Mass
• Vienna - Unknown Underground
• Vienna - Cats
• Vienna - Andy Warhol
• Vienna - Laser Tag

© Inge Prader

15. 07. 09. - 12:00

• more Panorama news
• RSS Feed Panorama

15. 07. 09. - 12:00

Austrian ´Real Brüno´ speaks out

By Thomas Hochwarter

The Austrian fashion editor dubbed "the real Brüno" has spoken out for the first time about the effect his new found fame has had on his life.

Adi Weiss, chief fashion editor of Austrian newspaper "Österreich" and its weekend lifestyle supplement "Madonna", says his decision to react to claims he was the role model for the controversial comedy character by writing a satirical column "backfired."

Speaking to Austrian Times, Weiss says: "When (ATV reporter) Dominic Heinzl claimed me – and not (ORF presenter) Alfons Haider – who inspired Sacha Baron Cohen, I just had to laugh.

"I reacted by writing a satirical column in which I admitted ‘Yes, it is me!’, adding I was really happy about the new attention as this can only be a good thing for the show in which I am playing a drag queen – which is all, needless to say, totally made up.

"And only a few days later, (London’s) Evening Standard claimed I was chased by paparazzi down the roads in Vienna, adding I must be happy about my new fame! I tried to take the wind out of the sails but it obviously backfired!"

Weiss says he is not afraid of any stalkers or paparazzi, saying: "People in Vienna know me anyway, and I’m not very often in London or New York."

Asked about whether he thinks Cohen really studied him and his life for the character which first appeared in the "Ali G. Show", aired by Channel 4 from 2000, he says laughing: "This obscure theory is the best proof that Brüno is a fictional character – I don’t want to think about what I was like back then!"

Weiss says: "It is so obvious Cohen picked a country like Austria – it would not be that interesting if his character was from Milan or Paris. And the fact Cohen does not reveal whether there is a role model is just proof of what a clever businessman he is."

Weiss, who claims to have not seen the film yet because he is busy with new projects, finds Cohen’s marketing stunts "unbelievably amazing."

"He is a master of putting focus on what he does. All the fuss and controversy – that’s exactly what people want," he beams.

Reacting to rumours a real-life documentary on the "Real Austrian Brüno" is being made, he says: "I wouldn’t mind if someone portrayed me how I really am – I’m just afraid no one would find it that interesting when it is revealed I sometimes like to stay in and watch TV instead of attending a trendy event.

"And it wouldn’t be much more exciting either to show me going into the office in the morning to work all day," he adds.

Weiss says he is looking forward to projects with his new company "Weiss & Lameraner Media Group", a fashion media consulting group.

He reveals: "We are doing fashion lines and a pocket-sized fashion guide which will be released in September."

And asked what he thinks about the public outrage sparked by Brüno claiming he wants to be the "most famous Austrian since Hitler", Weiss says: "I think people should act relaxed about all the controversy – it is not that bad and purely satirical. He just plays with clichés.

"There is quite an outspoken comedy scene in Austria as well which focuses on many sensitive issues, so let’s be cool about what Brüno is doing."

Austrian Times

Related articles: quirky Austria

1. Anti-truancy official for Vienna

   » General News 2012-03-23

   Horst Tschaikner has been named head of Vienna’s new anti-truancy office.

2. Dog days for clumsy Arnautovic

   » Sports 2012-03-09

   Werder Bremen star Marko Arnautovic will be sidelined for more than a month after injuring his knee while playing with his dog.

3. Unanimous praise for State Opera Ball

   » Panorama 2012-02-17

   Political leaders and showbiz stars had only kind words about last night’s (Thurs) Opera Ball.

more related articles tagged "quirky Austria"

Related articles: Brüno mania

1. Austrian version of 'Strictly Come Dancing' to have male couple

   » Panorama 2011-01-12

   An Austrian entertainer tagged as having been Sacha Baron Cohen’s inspiration to create gay fashion journalist Brüno will compete in this year’s "Dancing Stars" show – with a man as his partner.

2. Majority unafraid of bad ´Brüno´ effect, poll shows

   » Panorama 2009-07-30

   The majority of Austrian Times readers think that Austrians do not need to worry about the new "Brüno" movie having a negative effect on the country’s image – because it has already been badly damaged.

3. ´Brüno´ lures Brits to Vienna

   » Business 2009-07-22

   Britons are flooding to Vienna because of Sacha Baron Cohen’s hit comedy "Brüno", tourism bosses in Vienna have said.

more related articles tagged "Brüno mania"

Turks flattened by lone asylum seeker
A furious Nigerian went on the rampage at a refuge for asylum seekers in Leibnitz, attacking several people and damaging property.

Woman bites toddler
A woman who bit a two-year-old tot during a road rage row with her mother is being quizzed by police in Wiener Neustadt, Austria.

New Dany Boon comedy to be filmed in Austria
The French film star Dany Boon, one of the highest paid actors in Europe after his hit film "Welcome to the Sticks", is filming in Salzburg.

China meets Hallstatt
After a long time of speculation and anticipation the exact copy of Austrian world heritage village of Hallstatt-Dachstein in China will be unveiled, and there will be real-life Austrians present for the ceremony.

Skier in court after accident
A man from Graz is in court today accused of having inflicted negligent injury upon a five-year-old when skiing in Carinthia last year.

Two fires in Ottakring claim one life
Two fires started on Thursday evening in the Vienna district of Ottakring, one of which claimed a man’s life. Several people were evacuated as a result of the two blazes.

Cows zapped to death by lightning
Four cows were zapped to death after a lightning strike hit the barbed wire fence they were leaning on in Reith im Alpbachtal, Austria.

Wolf babies born in Schönbrunn
These cuddly Artic wolf cubs have got every right to look a bit frosty - after they emerged into the world for the first time in the middle of a 27 degree heatwave.

Cleaned Out
A Hungarian cleaning woman who stole tens of thousands of pounds worth of antique jewellery from an Austrian Countess and then sold it for "pocket money" unaware of its real value has been jailed by a court in Austria.

Great expectations for summer tourism season in Vorarlberg
The Vorarlberg tourism industry is currently riding high after a record breaking winter season, and the summer season is expected to follow that same trend.

Jobs in Austria