Taliban Terrorists SHOCKING Reaction to a Gay Foreigner (BRÜNO) | John Kiriakou

John Kiriakou on Consulting for Brüno

John Kiriakou describes how he ended up consulting on Brüno alongside Sasha Baron Cohen—specifically for the film’s Middle East/Terrorist-related parts. He also recounts how multiple plans went sideways in ways that were both tense and inadvertently hilarious.

How Kiriakou Got Involved

• A Washington media/entertainment colleague connected Kiriakou to Cohen.
• Kiriakou says he already had experience advising on Middle East-related movies, including The Bourne Ultimatum and The Kite Runner.
• When Cohen explains the concept—putting Brüno (a flamboyant gay Austrian fashion journalist) in front of “bonafide” terrorists and using provocative Polaroids as part of a “convincing” gag—Kiriakou immediately warns it’s dangerous, especially around religious extremists.

The “Terrorists” Plan and Why It Changed

• Cohen’s goal is to provoke Al-Qaeda/Hezbollah-style men using sexual/torture imagery, then ask whether prisoners should be sent to Guantanamo.
• Kiriakou pushes back, suggesting they target non-religious, communist/retired groups—people living quietly in Damascus.
• He claims he found them via a Damascus telephone book and arranged payment for their participation.

Location Chaos: Syria vs. Jordan

• The film initially considers Jordan.
• Kiriakou insists that the Jordanians’ intelligence services would need to be in on it; otherwise, the operation would be quickly “picked up.”
• Cohen refuses the idea.
• The plan becomes high-risk:
  • Cohen secretly travels to Jordan.
  • Kiriakou arranges logistics separately.

The Shocking Arrival Reaction (Major Highlight)

• Cohen lands in Aman, goes through customs, and is greeted by an official who already knows who he is.
• Kiriakou finds this baffling—apparently nobody needed to be informed “to keep the gag.”
• Cohen is taken by limo through the city to a palace, where the King personally meets him and treats him like a beloved star.
• The director of Jordanian intelligence is present during the meeting.
• Kiriakou’s takeaway: authorities appeared to know exactly what was happening before he even arrived.

The Polaroid Scene Disaster

• During the meeting, the two men Kiriakou had lined up are shown explicit Polaroids.
• Brüno’s flamboyant accent is used to ask:
  • Whether the sexual content is torture
  • Whether the men should be sent to Guantanamo
• Instead of reacting with violent anger (the response Cohen wanted), both men show visible disgust.
  • One says, “this not good”
  • The other rejects it as “haram not good”
• The scene ends awkwardly, playing like a brief, failed exchange rather than the explosive confrontation Cohen intended.
• Kiriakou says the scene ultimately wasn’t even used in the film.

Second Middle East Moment: Cohen Attacked at the Western Wall

• Cohen then goes to Israel.
• Kiriakou says Cohen arrives dressed absurdly flamboyant—high boots, pink hot pants, a leather vest, and a gorilla-like hair look.
• At the Western Wall:
  • A rabbi spits on him and calls him “dirty”
  • Yeshiva students then beat him badly
• Cohen breaks character, saying it’s a movie and that “I’m Sasha Baron Cohen.”
• However, the assault is so severe that filming stops for two weeks while injuries swell down.

Overall Tone / Takeaway

Kiriakou frames the experience as working with a genius who pushes boundaries—yet whose “cutting edge” humor can land beyond the intended target, provoking real-world danger instead of the desired comedic reactions.

Main Personalities Mentioned

• John Kiriakou (narrator/consultant)
• Sacha Baron Cohen / Sasha Baron Cohen (creator/star of Brüno and Borat)
• Sasha Baron Cohen’s character: Brüno (gay flamboyant Austrian journalist)