School officials 'punished for Brüno photos'

The Los Angeles Unified School District has penalised school officials for a GQ photoshoot involving Sacha Baron Cohen's movie character Brüno.

American football players from Birmingham High School in Van Nuys, California took part in the photo spread along with Cohen's alter ego.

The school district has since punished the principal and athletic director of the local high school for letting their students take part in the risqué snaps, E! reports.

The images show the comedian dressed in tight red underwear with an attached white cup, knee-high socks, cleats and shoulder pads that bare his midriff, while he directs the players in various drills on the field. In one picture, he poses as a quarterback positioned directly behind a young player.

Superintendent Ramon Cortines labelled the photos "provocative" and "inappropriate", and a clear violation of rules regarding commercial filming on school grounds. As a result, he reprimanded Marsha Coates and Rick Prizant.

However, Cortines was not at liberty to discuss the disciplinary measures that the pair will face. "I don't believe there is a place on any high school campus in America, including Los Angeles, for photos such as these," he said.

Brüno opens in cinemas on July 10.

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