Sacha Baron Cohen’s upcoming Ali G movie is facing a significant boycott movement over claims that the character and the film are racist, according to a report from Breitbart News. The campaign, organized by a U.K.-based watchdog site that uses AI to track media bias, aims to pressure cinemas worldwide to refuse to screen the film.
The watchdog group has reportedly rallied its members to support sending 37,000 emails to theaters around the globe, urging them to drop the movie. In its appeal, the organization cited past criticisms of the Ali G character, noting that “Black British comedians called the character ‘an alibi for racism’ in 2000” (though Breitbart notes the claim appears to stem from one comedian). The group also referenced British author Jeanette Winterson, who questioned what separates the character from the Black and White Minstrels, and highlighted documented harm from Kazakh and Arab organizations regarding the character’s portrayals.
The organization’s statement specifically pointed to Sony Pictures UK’s marketing tagline for the film, “He iz back. We ain’t liable,” and argued that since “the screens belong to the chains, and a booking is a choice,” cinemas should choose not to screen it.
Breitbart’s report frames the boycott as a case of irony, given Cohen’s history of advocating for censorship of speech and content he deems hateful or dangerous. The report notes that in a 2019 speech, Cohen called for social media platforms to “purge” lies and conspiracies, and he has previously argued that “freedom of speech is not freedom of reach,” suggesting that bigots and pedophiles should not be given platforms to amplify their views.
Cohen has also called for permanent bans of former President Donald Trump from social media and celebrated when that happened, according to the report. Breitbart’s piece highlights what it calls Cohen’s hypocrisy, pointing out that he criticized the “Silicon Six” tech billionaires for imposing their vision on the world, yet simultaneously asked those same companies to decide what speech should be allowed.
The report’s author, John Nolte, is sharply critical of Cohen, calling him a “censorship advocate” and a “flaming hypocrite.” Nolte writes that Cohen’s schtick involves manipulating everyday people into making fools of themselves, and that he abuses his power as a wealthy comedian to mock others.
The boycott effort comes as Cohen, who gained fame with the Ali G character in the late 1990s and early 2000s, prepares to revive the character for a new feature film. The original Ali G character, a fictional British suburbanite who interviews public figures with intentionally ignorant questions, has long been controversial. Critics have accused the character of relying on racial stereotypes, while defenders have argued that it satirizes ignorance and racism itself.
In a 2000 review, the character was described by one British comedian as “an alibi for racism,” and author Jeanette Winterson drew comparisons to the Black and White Minstrels, a controversial British variety show that featured white performers in blackface. Kazakh and Arab organizations also documented perceived harms from the character and its associated portrayals.
Cohen, who has built a career on creating provocative characters like Borat and Bruno, has frequently positioned himself as a champion of free expression in his work. However, his public advocacy for stricter content moderation on social media has drawn criticism from free speech advocates, who see a contradiction between his artistic methods and his calls for censorship.
Breitbart’s report suggests that Cohen’s past positions now leave him vulnerable to the boycott. Nolte writes, “You made this bed, pal — now you get to lay in it.”
The watchdog group’s campaign is focused on convincing cinema chains to decline to book the film, arguing that theaters have a choice in what they screen. The 37,000 emails represent a significant coordinated effort to pressure venues ahead of the movie’s release.
Neither Cohen nor Sony Pictures UK have publicly responded to the boycott as of the time of reporting.
The situation underscores the ongoing tensions in entertainment and media over the boundaries of satire, offense, and accountability. Cohen’s career has thrived on pushing boundaries, but now those boundaries are being pushed back against him.
Breitbart’s report also revisits Cohen’s 2019 speech, in which he said: “This is not about limiting anyone’s free speech. This is about giving people, including some of the most reprehensible people on earth, the biggest platform in history to reach a third of the planet. Freedom of speech is not freedom of reach. Sadly, there will always be racists, misogynists, anti-Semites and child abusers. But I think we could all agree that we should not be giving bigots and pedophiles a free platform to amplify their views and target their victims.”
He also said he wanted Big Tech to “insist on facts and purge these lies and conspiracies from their platforms.”
The new boycott campaign appears to apply a similar logic to Cohen’s own film, arguing that the movie’s potential harm outweighs its artistic or commercial interests.
Whether the boycott will succeed in influencing theaters remains to be seen. But the campaign has already drawn attention to the ongoing debate over who gets to decide what content is acceptable in public discourse.
Source: www.breitbart.com — https://www.breitbart.com/entertainment/2026/08/31/nolte-censorship-advocate-sacha-baron-cohens-ali-g-movie-faces-boycott-over-racism-claims/