Twentieth Century Fox is being sued over the Borat film

Twentieth Century Fox is being sued by a New York businessman over his unwitting role in comedian Sacha Baron Cohen’s Borat film.

The US District Court complaint, filed anonymously under the name John Doe, claims that the movie depicts him “fleeing in apparent terror” from the comic’s character.

The federal suit is almost identical to a state court lawsuit which was filed – and then immediately withdrawn – by 31-year-old Jeffrey Lemerond in January.

In the new suit, the businessman, who is seen being chased down Fifth Avenue in the film, claims his civil rights have been violated.

He said he was screaming “Go away” at Sacha (as Borat), who was seeking a hug from the stranger.

The federal action names the film’s distributor Twentieth Century Fox as a defendant and claims it unjustly enriched itself through the unauthorised use of the businessman’s image.

He also claims to have suffered “public ridicule, degradation, and humiliation” as a result of his brief appearance in the film.

The lawsuit also notes that Borat: Cultural Learnings Of America For Make Benefit Glorious Nation Of Kazakhstan grossed in excess of 320 million US dollars (£160.5 million) in film ticket and DVD sales.