I fell in love with Omar Sharif in the sickeningly romantic 60s epic “Doctor Zhivago”. I really, really hope what I am reading is just a rumor:

A Latino American named Juan Anderson has filed a lawsuit against internationally well-known Egyptian actor Omar El Sharif accusing him of being a racist.

Juan claimed that a verbal fight had broken out between him and Omar outside a restaurant in Los Angeles, when the actor tried to bribe him with 20 Euros in order to park his Porsche in front of the restaurant.

Anderson added that during the fight, Omar had called him a “Stupid Mexican” several times and had ordered his driver to drive the car towards Anderson who was trying to stall the actor until the police arrived.

On his part, Omar’s lawyer denied that the actor made such remarks and considered the entire lawsuit as silly, adding that there were many witnesses who can prove that Omar did not commit any racial crime.

How can anyone with such sweet little doe eyes be filled with hate? More importantly, why do actors risk these types of rumors getting out, knowing that a large part of their fan base will feel isolated? He was in L.A., for christ’s sake. Well, if Omar is a racist I’ll be disappointed, but I’m sure he’s just one of many. Ironically, the first one that comes to mind is Brigitte Bardot, whose disgusting comments were directed toward Omar’s own people.

In the words of the immortal Karen Carpenter “can’t we stop hurting each other?” Think about THAT over the weekend. Peace.

Via / Al Bawaba

Update: The “Mexican” (who is Guatemalan) is suing him.