Sacha Baron Cohen: ‘I’m officially canceling myself’
Cancel culture has simply gone too far.
Sacha Baron Cohen has officially canceled his beloved — but controversial — satirical characters.
Sunday night at the MTV Movie & TV Awards, the 49-year-old filmmaker was honored with the Comedic Genius gong, bringing his characters Ali G, Borat Sagdiyev, Bruno Gehard and Admiral General Aladeen along for the occasion — and making the executive decision to end his categorically un-PC schticks.
Following an introduction by Seth Rogen, who applauded the British satirist for “reveal[ing] the truth about the human condition by utilizing brilliant wit and sharp, insightful commentary,” Cohen and the gang accepted — and fought over — the award via a pre-recorded speech.
“Thank you Prince Harry,” the Kazakh broadcaster began. “I’m very excited to be on this brand-new music television channel.”
“I’m very happy to be accepting this cup of gold teeth instead of Sacha Baron Cohen and will put it in our national museum along with other treasure we have confiscated from Jews,” Borat continued. “High five!”
Then, chavvish celebrity correspondent Ali G entered the frame. “We should be accepting this award, not you. I was the original gangster. The OG,” he interrupted.
The well-acquainted pair briefly caught up over Borat’s return in the acclaimed “Subsequent Moviefilm,” as Ali G complained that it was “wack.”
“The only good bit was in that hotel room when that fly honey in the blue dress was about to be boned by Rudi Guli-Andrews. Then you come in and ruin it,” he said.
Then, Cohen himself arrived to take what is rightfully his, but not before dragging Ali G for being a “white suburban kid who’s coo-opting black culture.”
“I created you,” said Cohen. “You created me? That is typical white privilege innit?” Ali G responded before exiting the frame.
“Thank you MTV; to the millions of fans out there who voted for me, I salute you. This is yours, I’d be nothing without you. I’m so humbled by this. I’m just a human being creating complex nuanced characters — sophisticated tools to expose …”
Cohen ekes out a few lines of gratitude before Bruno appears, wearing a pink unitard with one ghastly appendage hanging from the front: “Did somebody say they want me to expose my sophisticated tool?”
“You’re ruining this,” said Cohen. “You can’t say that stuff unless you’re exposing homophobia with real people.”
Bruno briefly gabs over missing BTS and craving “Korean barbecue” before Cohen turns to the camera and declares to the audience: “Before anyone else does it, I am officially canceling myself — I was actually really looking forward to this after losing the Oscar. You can f - - king keep it,” he said, in reference to his 2021 Academy Awards nomination for Best Supporting Actor in “The Trial of the Chicago 7,” as well as Best Adapted Screenplay for the “Borat” sequel — both of which Cohen lost.
Exasperated, Cohen walks away from the podium as Bruno takes the Golden Popcorn award for himself and thanks his “wundebar glam squad.” In the last seconds, Admiral General Aladeen appears before the tape was cut.
Cohen was nominated for three awards that night: Best Movie and Best Duo with Maria Bakalova for “Borat,” as well as Best Performance in a Movie for “The Trial of the Chicago 7.”
The actor and comedian has already vowed to retire the character of Borat during the Golden Globes earlier this year, revealing to audiences that it was “probably the most dangerous project I had to work on. The gray suit is locked up and not coming out again.”