Sacha Baron Cohen: Backlash to new Ali G part of trend to silence Jews

Sacha Baron Cohen says backlash to his new Ali G film is part of a trend to silence Jews. In a Hollywood Reporter interview, he dismissed links to his pro-Israel stance. The ADL's Jonathan Greenblatt slammed boycott calls. The film, debuting Friday, also features Cohen as an ex-Mossad agent.

British Jewish actor Sacha Baron Cohen has suggested that calls to boycott his new film 'Ali G: Who Iz I?' are part of a trend to silence Jews. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Cohen said, 'We are in a world where people can't distinguish between facts and lies... I'm not surprised that prominent Jews are being targeted.' He dismissed speculation linking the boycott to his pro-Israel stance, noting he has not spoken publicly about Israel beyond calling for the release of hostages after October 7, 2023. The film, debuting Friday, features Cohen reprising the Ali G role for the first time in over 20 years, as well as a new character, ex-Mossad agent Col. Eran Morrad. Media monitoring site NewsCord launched an email campaign demanding theaters refuse to screen the film over 'discriminatory language.' Jonathan Greenblatt, head of the Anti-Defamation League, slammed the boycott calls, writing, 'No artist should be pressured, blacklisted or silenced over their Jewish identity.' Cohen also revealed that Marvel was cautious about casting him as Mephisto due to antisemitic associations. The article's framing relies on Cohen's own characterization of the backlash without independent sourcing on the boycott's scale.