Sacha Baron Cohen Ali G Movie Slammed as Racist, Activists Send 37,000 Emails to Theaters
Activists are urging cinemas to boycott Sacha Baron Cohen’s forthcoming Ali G mockumentary, Ali G: Who Iz I?, arguing that the character is a racist caricature. The campaign has renewed debate over whether the satire targets cultural appropriation or perpetuates harmful stereotypes, ahead of the film’s planned October release.
UK media-bias watchdog NewsCord says it has helped organise 37,000 emails asking cinemas worldwide not to screen the Amazon MGM Studios film. Writer Afua Hirsch and other critics said the character’s portrayal is outdated and offensive, while supporters argue Ali G is intended to ridicule a white man’s misguided imitation of Black culture. No cinema chain had agreed to the boycott at the time of publication; Danish chain NFBIO said it would show the film in support of a broad and diverse programme.
- Activists want cinemas to boycott the new Ali G film.
- NewsCord says 37,000 protest emails have been sent.
- No cinema chains had joined the boycott.
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Ali G is a comic character created and played by British comedian Sacha Baron Cohen. He is a white man who imitates aspects of Black British culture, and the humour comes partly from the gap between the persona he adopts and his own background.
The disagreement is over who or what the joke targets. Critics say the character relies on offensive racial stereotypes, while supporters argue he makes fun of a white man’s shallow imitation of another culture. That debate matters because comedy can challenge prejudice while also repeating images that audiences may find harmful.
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Critics argue that Ali G’s humour relies on a white character imitating Black culture through stereotypes, which can reinforce harmful ideas regardless of satirical intent. They see a cinema boycott as a way to challenge portrayals they consider outdated and to signal that entertainment venues should take those concerns seriously.
The case against
Supporters argue that Ali G is meant to expose the ignorance and prejudice of a white man who misunderstands the culture he imitates, making the character the target of the joke. They may also see screening the film as consistent with allowing audiences to judge controversial satire for themselves and with offering a broad range of work.