Sacha Baron Cohen says 'ignorance reigns and truth is inverted'
Sacha Baron Cohen resurrected Ali G because the character is "outdated and problematic".
The 55-year-old star has revived his buffoon alter-ego for Ali G: Who Iz I?, the new comedy film, and Sacha has explained why he decided to return to the divisive character.
The actor wrote for Time magazine: "The fact that Ali G is outdated and problematic is the very reason I resurrected him.
"The world he’s returned to is, in many ways, worse than the one he left 20 years ago. All the prejudices my characters are designed to expose haven’t just lingered—they’ve metastasised. They’re fuelled by the greatest propaganda machine in history—social media—and now by its monstrous child, AI."
Sacha observed that bigoted attitudes have "gone mainstream" since he last appeared as Ali G.
The comedy star - who is also known for playing the character of Borat - said: "Back when I first created Borat, it took a few minutes—or a few drinks—to get people to reveal the racism that often simmered below the surface.
"Now, those views have gone mainstream—whether it’s fans hurling slurs and abuse at black players during the World Cup or hundreds of white nationalists marching through Washington, D.C., on July 4."
The actor reflected: "Twenty years ago, Ali G would sit next to world experts spouting absurdities.
"Today—fed a steady diet of disinformation and conspiracy theories by social media influencers and TikTok news—we have created an entire world where ignorance reigns and truth is inverted.
"Thanks to this toxic brew of lies, conspiracies, and hate, right-wing authoritarianism is on the march. Intolerance and extremism have surged on the left as well. Political violence has increased, as has our tolerance for it."
Sacha also explained that there's a dual ambition behind Ali G: Who Iz I?.
He said: "I made this latest film for the same reason I’ve always done this work. Not only to make people laugh, but also to bring them face-to-face with the danger of fanaticism and conspiracy theories."
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