Brief

Sacha Baron Cohen explains why he revived Ali G in new film

The actor argues the character’s “problematic” nature is the reason for his comeback.

By Felo News Desk · Published Wed, 21 Oct 2026 01:30:09 GMT

Sacha Baron Cohen told Variety that he resurrected his Ali G persona because its outdated and problematic traits now serve to highlight deeper societal biases.

What happened

In a cover essay for Time, Cohen said the world has become “worse” than when he last used the character 20 years ago, with prejudice “metastasizing” via social media and AI. The satirical film, titled “Ali G: Who Iz I?”, features Morgana Robinson as Julie and debuted at a recent premiere.

What the reports add

Variety notes that at the premiere Cohen, speaking as Ali G, responded to a question about the Paramount‑Warner Bros. merger with a joke about a personal “babylons” merger, sparking further controversy.

What was said

“The fact that Ali G is outdated and problematic is the very reason I resurrected him,” Cohen wrote in Time.

He added that his characters are “vehicles to expose prejudice, bias, and stupidity.”

How it came about

The film’s production was kept secret until the premiere, and Cohen’s essay links the revival to a tradition of satire from ancient Greece to Monty Python, aiming to hold a mirror to uncomfortable truths.

Key facts

Baron Cohen revived Ali G to expose prejudice, citing social media and AI. (variety.com)
The new film is titled “Ali G: Who Iz I?” and includes Morgana Robinson as Julie. (variety.com)
At the premiere, Cohen joked about a personal merger, intensifying controversy. (variety.com)