On 26 August, Sacha Baron Cohen and Sony Pictures showed off the new Ali G sequel. The response — it’s fair to say — has not been positive. And now, campaigners are asking cinemas to not show the film, with one UK chain already confirming the following:
Cohen is receiving backlash for three primary reasons. The first is that the character is basically just Cohen doing blackface:
When Ali G first came out, the joke was seemingly pastiching white guys who appropriated what they saw as Black culture in London.
Whether you bought that joke or not, it’s clearly worn thin to the point of being non-existent at this point, and as such people are understandably taking the character to be Cohen’s impression of Black people.
Sorry, what? Ali G exists to poke fun of white brits appropriating black culture. I’m not a fan, but we have to call things what they are.
And there it is
Mhm, okay so are you black?
The fact that you see whatever Ali G did as “black culture” instead of racist caricatures really tells it all.
The fact that you make memes comparing Dolly Parton to Hitler should have been a heads up to me that just because someone can write that doesn’t mean they’re literate.
Looks like you’re all out of arguments to defend your racism so time to go selective quote shopping. Unsurprising you’re jumping on the first opportunity you see to defend more racism.
As a minority myself I absolutely detest racism, and I am here in this comment section specifically to call it out. I came to this you with open arms and open eyes and gave you every opportunity to explain your reasoning, but instead you choose to attack me. You have said nothing substantial so far and this has been fun but I’m done wasting my time with you now.
It’s not a black stereotype, it’s a stereotype of a white person who appropriates black culture. It’s not making fun of black culture itself.
Just a guy imitating all the worst racist tropes of stereotypical racist black culture as right wing media pushes it. But he’s white! So now he can wear a Jamaican outfit and talk with a Jamaican accent and do racist tropes… While being white!
And he’s called Ali. A very white name!
By the way remind me how long it took them after the movie to announce the character is actually “white”.
A guy imitating a white person imitating racist black stereotypes. The joke isn’t “Look at this ridiculous behavior which is representative of black people”, the joke is “Look at this ridiculous white person imitating racist stereotypes”. The punchline isn’t black culture, the punchline is cringey white guys. Ali G is more often than not the butt of the joke.
Is Ali a white name?
It is if a white person names their white child that. What is this question?