Baron Cohen's second Ali G: Who Iz I? trailer brings back Borat and Erran Morad
A new trailer for Sacha Baron Cohen's Ali G: Who Iz I? features Borat responding to accusations that the film is racist, and Colonel Erran Morad leading a class for MAGA supporters. The film opens in theaters on Oct. 23.
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The story, neutrally told
Left · 2Sacha Baron Cohen has released a second trailer for Ali G: Who Iz I?, in which his earlier character Borat appears to address backlash against the film. Rolling StoneL “has brought a few of his old characters, including Borat, back in the fold to promote his film for its second trailer.” Read at Rolling Stone ↗ The A.V. ClubLC “he’s brought Borat back in the latest trailer for Ali G: Who Iz I?” Read at The A.V. Club ↗ Left · 1In a "Special Announcement" from the Kazakhstan Ministry of Information, Borat gives a "grave warning" and says deadpan: "There have been reportings that this film is racist. We have seen it and sadly it is not." Rolling StoneL “There have been reportings that this film is racist. We have seen it and sadly it is not,” he deadpans.” Read at Rolling Stone ↗ Left · 2Both outlets say it is unclear whether Borat is actually in the film. Rolling StoneL “It’s unclear that Borat is actually in the movie” Read at Rolling Stone ↗ The A.V. ClubLC “As far as we know, Borat won’t be in this movie” Read at The A.V. Club ↗
Left · 2The trailer also brings back Colonel Erran Morad, the Israeli counterterrorism expert from Who Is America?, who appears to lead a training or self-defense class for MAGA supporters. Rolling StoneL “features Israeli counterterrorism expert Colonel Erran Morad, who shows up to head up what looks like a training program for immigrant-fearing MAGA folks.” Read at Rolling Stone ↗ The A.V. ClubLC “who’s here to teach some kind of self-defense class to a room full of MAGA guys” Read at The A.V. Club ↗ Left · 2Rolling Stone reports that the AI-powered media monitoring platform Newscord has called for a boycott of the film, accusing Baron Cohen of using satire as a "cover for enforcing racist stereotypes"; The A.V. Club refers more generally to backlash "across the pond". Rolling StoneL “received a call for a boycott by the AI-powered media monitoring platform Newscord” Read at Rolling Stone ↗ The A.V. ClubLC “some of the backlash the new Ali G has already received across the pond” Read at The A.V. Club ↗ Left · 2Ali G: Who Iz I? is Baron Cohen's directorial debut and revives the character after about 20 years; it follows Ali G on a trip to America to "reclaim his former glory" before his girlfriend has his child. The A.V. ClubLC “Ali G: Who Iz I? is Baron Cohen’s directorial debut and follows the character on a trip to America in an attempt “to reclaim his former glory”” Read at The A.V. Club ↗ Rolling StoneL “which resurrects his famous poser character after 20 years” Read at Rolling Stone ↗
Left · 2The film opens in theaters on Oct. 23; The A.V. Club says it will play for one weekend before presumably moving to Prime Video. Rolling StoneL “Ali G: Who Iz I? heads to theaters on Oct. 23.” Read at Rolling Stone ↗ The A.V. ClubLC “The film will play in theaters for one weekend starting on October 23 before presumably moving to Prime Video.” Read at The A.V. Club ↗ Left · 1Rolling Stone adds that Baron Cohen teased Ali G's return over the summer by appearing in character at the Wimbledon finals, aiming to sell as much weed as possible during the match. Rolling StoneL “Baron Cohen teased the character’s return when he showed up to the Wimbledon finals in character, with the aim of selling as much weed as possible during the match.” Read at Rolling Stone ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left2 outlets
- Framing
- Light entertainment-news coverage of a promotional trailer, treating Borat's appearance as a joking, self-aware response to accusations that the film is racist.
- Emphasis
- The returning characters (Borat, Erran Morad) and the trailer's tongue-in-cheek defence; Rolling Stone also names the Newscord boycott call.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Neither outlet quotes the film's critics at length or gives a response from Newscord or Baron Cohen's representatives; The A.V. Club does not name the boycott call.
- Charged language
- “grave warning”“half-cheeky, half-serious attempt”“pesky boycott accusations”
- For example
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“a half-cheeky, half-serious attempt to downplay some of the backlash” — The A.V. Club
“to address the pesky boycott accusations” — Rolling Stone
Centre0 outlets
No centre outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Right0 outlets
No right outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
What every side reports
- Baron Cohen released a new trailer for Ali G: Who Iz I? featuring Borat and Erran Morad.
- Borat says in the trailer that the film is not racist.
- It is unclear whether Borat is in the film itself.
- The film is Baron Cohen's directorial debut and opens in theaters on Oct. 23.
Sacha Baron Cohen person
Through Borat in the trailer, Baron Cohen answers accusations that the film is racist with a deadpan denial; no direct statement from him is quoted.
“There have been reportings that this film is racist. We have seen it and sadly it is not,” he deadpans.” — Rolling Stone
“Borat says the movie is not racist as it’s being made out to be” — The A.V. Club
Left2 articles
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Sacha Baron Cohen enlists Borat to defend Ali G: Who Iz I?
Mixed Wry, playful take presenting Borat as defending Ali G against backlash, with light mockery of Baron Cohen 'playing the hits'.
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Sacha Baron Cohen Uses Borat to Defend Ali G in New ‘Who Iz I?’ Trailer
Neutral Trailer news piece that adds the Newscord boycott call and the Wimbledon tease as context.
Centre0 articles
No coverage yet.
Right0 articles
No coverage yet.
- 9 Oct 14:35 First The A.V. ClubLC Sacha Baron Cohen enlists Borat to defend Ali G: Who Iz I?
- 9 Oct 17:00 +2h 25m Rolling StoneL Sacha Baron Cohen Uses Borat to Defend Ali G in New ‘Who Iz I?’ Trailer
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.