BOOYAKASHA-NO! Sacha Baron Cohen’s secret Ali G comeback film AXED by cinema giant after fiery ‘racism’ backlash
COMEDY prankster Sacha Baron Cohen has been hit by the biggest disaster of his showbiz career after his secret new movie was dumped by a major cinema chain following an explosion of fury.
More than two decades after he last brought the iconic yellow-tracksuit-wearing rudeboy to the big screen in 2002’s Ali G Indahouse, the 54-year-old funnyman stunned Tinseltown by secretly wrapping up a blockbuster sequel titled Ali G: Who Iz I?.
Movie execs were gearing up for a massive autumn payday with the faux-gangsta’s big return scheduled for October 23. But what was meant to be a triumphant comeback for the Staines-based poseur has turned into a total nightmare.
MASSIVE OUTRAGE
The comedy genius now finds himself at the centre of a ferocious media storm, facing fierce accusations that his signature character relies on cheap cultural appropriation and enforces harmful racial stereotypes.
Leading the charge against the flick is powerful media watchdog group NewsCord. Campaigners launched a blistering attack on the movie, claiming Baron Cohen’s sharp satire is nothing more than a “cover for enforcing racist stereotypes” and slamming studios for bringing back a “racist caricature”.
Furious filmfans and activists rallied behind the cause, triggering an unprecedented tidal wave of outrage. An astonishing 27,000 protest emails flooded distributor and cinema inboxes across the globe in a matter of days, demanding executives pull the plug on the release before it hits screens.
CINEMA BAN
Now, the bitter row has reached boiling point.
In a massive blow to the Borat star, renowned UK cinema chain Picturehouse Cinemas officially announced they are slamming the door shut on the film.
A spokesperson for Picturehouse—which boasts 25 trendy picture houses across the country—confirmed: “We currently do not have any plans to screen this film on its release.”
The bombshell decision makes Picturehouse the first major UK chain to officially turn its back on the flick, leaving its silver screen future hanging by a thread.
“STAY IN THE PAST”
Movie insiders say the brutal snub has sent shockwaves through Hollywood, with studio heads panicking that other mega-chains like Odeon, Cineworld, and Vue could soon follow suit and ban the film altogether.
One studio insider gasped: “Sacha thought he could pull off the ultimate secret prank and bring Ali G back for a whole new generation. But times have changed drastically since 2002. What was seen as edgy satire back then is now getting slammed as completely out of touch. He never expected a backlash this intense.”
News of the cinema ban split fans right down the middle, unleashing chaos across social media.
Opponents cheered the decision, with one activist declaring: “Ali G belongs in the early 2000s! You can’t just put on oversized streetwear, tinted glasses, and fake slang in 2026 and call it comedy. It’s offensive, outdated, and cinema chains are right to dump it.”
DIE-HARD DEFENDERS
However, die-hard fans of the Staines legend rushed to defend the star, claiming critics have completely missed the point of his award-winning comedy.
“People have lost their minds!” raged one furious filmgoer online. “Ali G was never making fun of Black culture—the entire joke is that he’s an idiot white guy from Surrey who thinks he’s a hardcore gangster! It’s mocking ignorant wannabes, not minority communities. Stop cancelling comedy!”
Another chimed in: “It’s pure satire! Sacha Baron Cohen has been doing this for 25 years. If we start banning Ali G, we might as well ban all comedy forever.”
Baron Cohen first created the legendary character for Channel 4’s The Eleven O’Clock Show back in 1998, before starring in the smash-hit Da Ali G Show and the hit 2002 movie. He went on to conquer global box offices with hilarious spin-offs featuring Kazakh journalist Borat and Austrian fashionista Brüno.
Representatives for Sacha Baron Cohen and distributors Sony Pictures and Amazon MGM Studios have so far stayed tight-lipped as the crisis deepens.
With the October premiere fast approaching, showbiz experts warn the star faces an uphill battle to save his $40 million passion project from being permanently canned.
Respected! Or is it bye-bye, Ali?
