The Sacha Baron Cohen Ali G film has drawn an angry reaction from one of its unwitting participants. Michael Aboud, chair of the El Paso County Republican Party, says the crew misled him about the project, and he plans to sue. The Guardian first reported his comments, but the coverage so far does not mention any filed lawsuit.
Quick Overview
| Film | Ali G: Who Iz I? (Amazon MGM Studios) |
| Who is upset | Michael Aboud, El Paso County Republican Party chair |
| His claim | He believed it was a documentary about illegal border crossings |
| His plan | He says he will sue |
| Lawsuit filed? | Not reported |
| Response from Cohen or the studio | None found in the coverage |
What Did Michael Aboud Say About the Sacha Baron Cohen Ali G Film?
Aboud says the crew told him they were making a documentary about illegal border crossings. According to Border Report, he called Cohen and the crew “a bunch of liars” who deceive people for their own benefit. He also gave his opinion that Cohen is “a pervert” and said, “I plan to sue him.”
Aboud also urged people not to spend money on anything Cohen makes or appears in. Those are his words and opinions, so readers should treat them that way.
What Happens in the Scene Aboud Appears In?
The segment features one of Cohen’s older characters, an Israeli counterterrorism expert, Col. Erran Morad. Aboud says the crew introduced Morad as an Israeli self-defense instructor, as Mezha reported.
Newser summarized the Guardian’s account: Aboud and other MAGA sympathizers get recruited to stop a fictional drug lord’s pregnant girlfriend from giving birth on US soil. The mission ends with a lifelike fake baby, and Aboud decides to drop it while it hangs from a drone. The scene is satire, and no real baby is involved.
Can Aboud Actually Sue Sacha Baron Cohen?
He can try, but the track record is poor. In 2018, Roy Moore sued Cohen for $95 million over a Who Is America? segment. An appeals court later rejected the case, because Moore had signed a disclosure agreement that barred legal claims, and the judges found the segment was “clearly comedy.”
Earlier suits also faltered. NBC noted that a New York judge tossed claims from a driving instructor and two etiquette teachers who said Borat had duped them. In each case, signed releases mattered.
Whether Aboud signed a release has not been reported. Therefore, nobody can say yet how a case would go.
How Have Others Responded?
Cohen has not responded in the coverage available. However, he has defended reviving Ali G in other interviews, arguing that the character exposes prejudice and stupidity.
Another participant, Joshua Loudermilk, has spoken more warmly about the shoot. Mezha reports that he wrote on social media about spending 12 hours with Cohen and learning how to make people laugh. In short, the people in the film do not all feel the same way.
What Is Ali G: Who Iz I?
The film brings Ali G back more than two decades after Ali G Indahouse in 2002. Amazon MGM Studios released it, and reviews have been mixed. One critic called it appalling apart from a single shocking moment, while another said it proves Cohen can still shock.
What Is Confirmed, and What Isn’t?
Confirmed: Aboud’s statements to The Guardian and his stated plan to sue. Not confirmed: that he has filed a case, whether he signed a release, and any response from Cohen or Amazon MGM. Also, no outlet has verified his claim about what the crew told him.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Michael Aboud?
He is the chair of the El Paso County Republican Party in Texas, not the state party.
Is Sacha Baron Cohen being sued over Ali G?
Not yet, based on the reports. Aboud says he plans to sue, but no filing has been reported.
Has Sacha Baron Cohen been sued over pranks before?
Yes. Roy Moore and several Borat participants sued, and the courts rejected those cases.
What is Ali G: Who Iz I?
It is Cohen’s comeback film for Ali G, released by Amazon MGM Studios.
Conclusion
The Sacha Baron Cohen Ali G film now has a legal threat attached, but a threat is not a lawsuit. Aboud’s account is one side of the story, and Cohen has a long history of surviving similar claims. Watch for a filing, or for a response from Cohen or the studio.
Faizullah Baig
Entertainment & Digital Culture Writer at WordPlay2018
Faizullah Baig is a writer at WordPlay2018 covering entertainment, celebrity news, movies, television, pop culture, and digital trends.
His work focuses on explaining current entertainment stories in a clear and reader-friendly way, with attention to the details behind trending headlines.
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Faizullah primarily covers:
Celebrity news and profiles
Movies and television
Entertainment industry developments
Celebrity relationships and public appearances
Trending pop-culture stories
Digital culture and online trends
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Faizullah aims to distinguish confirmed information from reports, estimates, and speculation. For developing stories, information may be updated as additional reliable details become available.
Articles published under his name are intended to provide readers with useful context rather than simply repeat a headline or social-media claim.
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Publication: WordPlay2018
Role: Entertainment & Digital Culture Writer
