Baron Cohen Says Ali G’s Flaws Drive His Return

Sacha Baron Cohen says he brought back Ali G because the character’s outdated and problematic qualities are central to the satire in his new film, Ali G Who Iz I?, which is scheduled to open in cinemas on October 23, 2026. He says the film aims both to make audiences laugh and to confront fanaticism and conspiracy theories. In an essay, Baron Cohen described Ali G as a white cultural appropriator whose joke is directed at the character himself and at the predominantly white establishment that takes him seriously, not at the cultures he borrows from. He said the character was designed to expose prejudice, bias and stupidity, while acknowledging that not everyone interprets the comedy that way. The return has prompted criticism. At the film’s Los Angeles premiere, Baron Cohen, performing as Ali G, made a sexualized remark about Sydney Sweeney that drew criticism online. Some critics called the remark misogynistic and argued that Ali G’s humor has not evolved. The available reports cite selected social-media reactions but do not establish how widely those views are held. Baron Cohen’s explanation rests on his view that prejudice and conspiracy theories remain urgent subjects. He...