Preacher Sues Maher
Jan. 29 2009, Published 12:53 p.m. ET
Rev. Jeremiah Cummings, founder of the Worldwide International Campaign for Christ Television Network in Orlando, Florida, has filed a $50 million lawsuit against Bill Maher and producer Lionsgate for using him in their documentary Religulous.
The film is a sacrilegious look at all religion from director Larry Charles (Borat).
He claims he was not told the true nature of the film and is angry that "my true character was distorted onscreen before millions of viewers for laughs.
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"I am made to appear to be some money hungry preacher, which is the typical stereotype of black preachers," Cummings also tells Beliefnet.
Maher admits that the true nature of the film was never quite disclosed. He tells The Los Angeles Times, "We even had a fake title for the film. We called it 'A Spiritual Journey.'"
The film only earned some $13 million at the box office, one-tenth of what Borat took in.