Ali G sparks boycott campaign
Photo: Richard Lewis/AP/TT

Ali G sparks boycott campaign over racism claims after trailer release

Comedian Sacha Baron Cohen's upcoming film "Ali G: Who Iz I?" has stirred up strong emotions in his home country, where a campaign has been launched to keep cinemas from showing the film, writes Variety.

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After the trailer for “Ali G: Who Iz I?” was released on Wednesday, critics accused the character, who is seen with dreadlocks and a rasta hat, of being “a cover for perpetuating racist stereotypes.” The campaign, launched by media watchdog NewsCord, says more than 36,000 emails have been sent to cinemas. The character Ali G became a hit around the turn of the millennium, with the joke being that a dumb white man imitates British hip-hop and Jamaican culture.

Cohen shared the trailer on X with the caption, "At a time when a comedian's career can end because of a single politically incorrect joke, I thought I'd play it safe and bring this guy back."

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AuthorTT News AgencyEnglish edition by Sweden Herald, adapted for our readers
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