Innocence of Muslims Actress Cindy Lee Garcia Sues Filmmaker, YouTube, Google

Thespian says she was cast in an "Arabian Desert adventure film" and Muhammad's name was not mentioned in her presence

By Claudia Rosenbaum Sep 19, 2012 11:10 PMTags
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Cindy Lee Garcia, the actress that appeared in the Innocence of Muslims film that's sparked rage across Arab nations, is taking action against those behind the movie.

E! News obtained the lawsuit filed by Garcia on Wednesday against filmmaker Nakoula Basseley Nakoula (aka Sam Bacile), YouTube and Google in Los Angeles Superior Court. In the suit, Garcia is suing over invasion of privacy, fraud, slander and intentional infliction of emotional stress, among other causes.

Garcia is also requesting an injunction to pull the video down from the Internet. A hearing will be heard on the injunction request Thursday morning at 8:30 a.m.

In her complaint, Garcia states that she responded to a casting call posted in Backstage for a film titled Desert Warrior. The film was represented to her, she states, as being a historical "Arabian Desert adventure film." Garcia states the prophet Muhammad's name was not mentioned during filming or when she was on set. Garcia says her acting work from Desert Warrior has since been posted on the Internet in the film The Innocence of Muslims and made to appear as if she "voluntarily performed in a hateful anti-Islamic production." Garcia has since received death threats and fears for her safety.

Garcia's attorney M. Cris Armenta told E! News her client filed this lawsuit and request for injunction because "she wants to clear her name. She has been the subject of death threats. She did not consent to use her image or likeness in this type of production."

"She was told it was an adventure film and when she made inquires directly to Bacile [Nakoula] he told her it was about ancient Egypt," Armenta added. "She has the script…There were no religious references made on set, or in script, nor was there any religious content made on set or in the script. She would not have consented to the use of her performance in that fashion."

As for death threats, Armenta told E! News her client's life has "changed substantially" since this film was posted, but she declined to elaborate on what precautions her client has taken due to concerns for her safety.