Sacha Baron Cohen Turning Dad’s $65 Million Offer To Marry His Lesbian Daughter Into A Movie
Remember the bizarre story of Cecil Chao? He’s the Hong Kong billionaire who was offering $65 million dollars to any man that could convince his lesbian daughter to “turn straight” and commit to a heterosexual relationship. Oh and by the way, that daughter is already married to her longtime partner, a woman.
As my colleague Koa Beck rightly noted, this generous offer from the woman’s father is basically an invitation for money-hungry men everywhere to sexually harass her wherever she goes for the foreseeable future. What’s more, it brings her personal family drama about a private decision into a very public setting. Not only does her dad hate her relationship, he’s making international headlines about how much he hates it.
While some of us see this entire incident as a little depressing, apparently others are finding the humor in this poor woman’s situation. In fact, one person is so inspired, he’s ready to turn Cecil Chao and his daughter into the plot for his newest movie.
Sacha Baron Cohen has announced that his newest comedy for Paramount Pictures will be about this sad, father-daughter tale. Cohen himself is likely to play the part of the Hong Kong billionaire. The movie is tentatively titled The Lesbian. Somehow, I don’t think this little gem will do anything to help actual women in relationships that their parents don’t acknowledge or approve of.
Cecil’s daughter Gigi Chao has responded to her father’s public crusade to get her married to a man. And she’s responded in a rather unexpected way. While I think most people would be angry and offended, Gigi was incredibly kind and supportive of her dad, saying, “At first I was entertained by it, and then that entertainment turned into the realisation and conviction that I am a really lucky girl to have such a loving daddy. It’s really sweet of him to do something like this as an expression of his fatherly love.” She further explained, “It’s not that he can’t accept me. It’s that he can’t accept how society would view me and the status that it would incur. Marriage is still a form of social status. I do understand him. I understand why he’s doing this.”
I have to say, given the sincerity and kindness in her response, this situation doesn’t really sound all that much like a comedy. It sounds like a family drama, one that deals with acceptance and understanding. Somehow, I don’t think that’s what Cohen has in mind.
(Photo: HRC/WENN)
