Ali G Movie Sparks Racism Protests, Activists Flood Theaters With Emails
Sacha Baron Cohen's upcoming film "Ali G: Who Iz I?" is facing a growing backlash, with activists labeling the returning character as a racist stereotype. According to The Hollywood Reporter, a U.K. watchdog group called NewsCord has mobilized its members to send 37,000 emails to cinemas worldwide, calling for a boycott of the Amazon-MGM Studios movie.
The group cited past criticism, noting that some Black British comedians previously called Ali G "an alibi for racism." The report also mentions that author Afua Hirsch criticized the character on Substack, stating its humor relies on outdated and offensive tropes.
Cohen appeared to address potential controversy in a social media post promoting the trailer. He wrote, "In an age where a comedian’s career can be ended by a single un-PC joke, I thought I’d play it safe and bring this guy back."
Online reactions to the trailer have been mixed, ranging from excitement to criticism that the character is no longer relevant. Some protest messages have also included antisemitic remarks.
Per the outlet, no theater chains have yet joined the boycott. One Danish chain, NFBIO, defended its decision to screen the film, stating it is not their role to censor legally distributed works aimed at adults, even if they are provocative.
