Sacha Baron Cohen revives Ali G because character is 'problematic'

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 21 Oct, 15:20 · Archive

Sacha Baron Cohen has brought back his character Ali G for a new film, arguing the character's outdated and problematic nature makes him relevant today.

Sacha Baron Cohen has brought back his character Ali G for a new film, Ali G: Who Iz I?. The 55-year-old actor wrote in Time Magazine that he resurrected the character because it is 'outdated and problematic', arguing this is precisely why the role matters now.

Baron Cohen said the world Ali G returns to is 'in many ways, worse than the one he left 20 years ago'. He noted that the prejudices his characters were designed to expose have not merely persisted but 'metastasised', driven by social media and artificial intelligence. He observed that bigoted attitudes have 'gone mainstream' since he last regularly appeared as Ali G in the 2002 film Ali G Indahouse and the television programme Da Ali G Show, which ran until 2004.

Baron Cohen, also known for playing Borat, pointed to examples of racism becoming openly expressed, including players facing racial abuse at the World Cup and white nationalists marching in Washington, D.C. on July 4. He argued that attitudes which once required 'a few minutes – or a few drinks – to get people to reveal' have now become openly held views.

How it is being reported

• Sacha Baron Cohen explains why he revived Ali G for new movieSacha Baron Cohen, who starred in hits like "Borat" and "The Dictator," joins "CBS Mornings" to talk about reviving his character Ali G for his new movie, "Ali G: Who Iz I?"CBS News · 21 Oct, 15:00
• Sacha Baron Cohen admits Ali G is ‘problematic’ but is still bringing him backThe comedy star said he had made the new film ‘for the same reason I’ve always done this work’.Metro · 21 Oct, 10:10

In this story: Sacha Baron Cohen · Ali G · Borat · Time Magazine · Washington, D.C.

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