Jay Leno Sued For Telling Sikh Religion Joke, Lawsuit Likely To Be Thrown Out Of Court
Jay Leno has used his platform as the host of The Tonight Show on NBC to poke fun at just about every religion, politician, celebrity and public figure known to man but apparently a joke regarding the Sikh religion of India has put him in hot water or more specifically court.
During a recent segment on his talk show Jay Leno was poking fun at members of the Republican party when he basically said that rich politicians such as Mitt Romney spend their summers in a solid gold palace. Following the jokes punchline a picture of India’s Harmandir Sahib (aka the Golden Temple of Amritar) was shown. The building is considered by the Sikh people to be one of the most holy spots in the world.
In responding to the joke a Sikh follower in Bakersfield, California filed a lawsuit against Jay Leno claiming libel. Apparently Dr. Randeep Dhillon believes that the joke has caused some unseen and deep hatred and ridicule of his religion.
In a funny moment in the court filing Dr. Dhillon says the Romney joke:
“Falsely portrays the holiest place in the Sikh religion as a vacation resort owned by a non-Sikh”
Randeep is suing for general and punitive damages. Ironically his lawsuit regarding the ridicule of his religion is probably going to do more damage to the Sikh faith and what people think of the religion then the joke told by Jay Leno.
Given that the punchline was an obvious joke the case is likely to stall before it ever reaches trial.
Do you think Jay Leno’s joke has led to deep hatred and ridicule geared towards the Sikh religion?
