Sacha Baron Cohen Responds to Boycott Calls Over New Ali G Film
Translated & summarized from Mako by baba
Actor Sacha Baron Cohen is responding to a global boycott campaign against his new film, "Ali G: Me Who?" Activists claim the Ali G character is a racist caricature and have urged cinemas not to screen the movie. Baron Cohen stated he has not commented on Israel and is not surprised by the targeting of prominent Jews, noting the surprising level of organization behind the boycott.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Sacha Baron Cohen addressed boycott calls against his new film "Ali G: Me Who?"
- Activists claim the Ali G character is a racist caricature.
- Baron Cohen stated he has not commented on Israel.
- He noted the surprising level of organization behind the boycott.
- The film marks the return of the Ali G character after 24 years.
Actor and comedian Sacha Baron Cohen has addressed calls from activists urging cinemas worldwide not to screen his upcoming film, "Ali G: Me Who?" The campaign, organized by a British group, claims the character of Ali G is a racist caricature and has prompted thousands of emails to theaters. In a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Baron Cohen stated, "I didn't say anything about Israel. I think people are misrepresented on social media, and it's problematic." He added that he believes people struggle to distinguish between facts and falsehoods online, an issue he has dedicated years to combating.
Baron Cohen, who has a history of speaking out against rising antisemitism, including labeling TikTok as a platform for the largest antisemitic movement since the Nazis, expressed that he is not surprised prominent Jews are targeted. "I knew this would happen. The level of organization is surprising, but it's a trend of portraying Jews in a certain way and trying to silence them," he commented.
He revealed his involvement in co-founding the organization Stop Hate for Profit, which collaborates with civil rights groups to fight fake news and incitement to racism on social media. The film "Ali G: Me Who?" marks the return of the Ali G character, 24 years after his initial appearance. The mockumentary, produced by Amazon and MGM, follows the character's attempt at a comeback and is set to premiere on October 23rd, followed by its release on Amazon Prime Video.
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