Sacha Baron Cohen’s ‘Ali G’ Return Hit by Racial Backlash as Activists Urge Theaters Not to Screen the Film

Sacha Baron Cohen's latest project, "Ali G: Who Iz I?", has ignited controversy and criticism over its portrayal of race. The comedian's return to the character that made him famous has faced accusations of racism and has even prompted a boycott campaign by a U.K. watchdog group, NewsCord. The email campaign has resulted in over 37,000 emails sent to theatrical chains, urging them not to screen the film.

NewsCord argues that the character is an "alibi for racism" and that the film is a continuation of the same problematic tropes seen in earlier Ali G projects. The organization cites past criticism from Black British comedians, writers like Jeanette Winterson, and organizations from Kazakh and Arab countries who have documented the harmful effects of the character's portrayal.

Sony Pictures is distributing the film internationally, while Amazon MGM Studios handles its release in the United States. Despite the backlash, some theater chains have not yet decided whether to screen the film or not. Picturehouse, a leading cinema chain in the U.K., stated that they currently have no plans to screen the film, though this is merely their standard response for films not yet on their schedule.

Cohen's intention behind creating Ali G was to play the fool and expose real-life xenophobia and racism through exaggerated tropes. However, the film's release has reignited debates about the character's relevance and impact. A Danish theater chain defended its decision to screen the film, stating that it aligns with their principle of presenting a diverse film program that includes both entertaining and controversial works.