The chair of the El Paso County Republican Party has announced plans to pursue legal action against filmmaker Sacha Baron Cohen over his appearance in the new satirical comedy Ali G: Who Iz I?, according to The Guardian. Michael Aboud claims he was deceived about the nature of the project and has characterised the filmmaker in highly critical terms. The film, which features Aboud in sequences that depict him participating in activities he did not anticipate, is set for theatrical release on 23 October 2026.
Aboud remained unaware of his involvement in anything beyond what he understood to be a documentary until The Guardian made contact with him on Tuesday. In a statement, he expressed his grievance, saying
"his entire film crew … a bunch of liars [who] deceive people to benefit themselves. They claimed that this would be a documentary about the illegals crossing the border. Then they said they were adding in this self-defence guy from Israel."He further stated:
"It is my opinion that Sasha Cohen [sic] is a pervert. Plus he talked about how Muslims are all gay because they follow the sex practices of Mohamid [sic]. No one should spend one penny watching anything he produces or appears in. I plan to sue him."
What happens in the film?
In the movie, Aboud is depicted participating in a training programme alongside another Cohen character, Col Erran Morad, presented as a former Mossad counterterrorism specialist. The programme instructs Aboud and fellow participants in self-defence techniques involving protective plastic buttocks worn over clothing, along with methods for firing projectiles through repeated manipulation of a rubber apparatus. The film runs 89 minutes and is rated R16 in New Zealand for sexual material, sexual violence and offensive language.
Aboud and fellow participant Joshua Loudermilk, a former preacher and aspiring actor, are then recruited by Morad for a fictional mission to prevent the birth on American soil of a baby belonging to a purported South American drug trafficker whom Mossad has mistaken for Ali G. The scenario involves the two men assisting in the abduction of Ali G's girlfriend, Julie (portrayed by actor Morgana Robinson), while she is apparently in advanced labour. They transport her in a kebab van disguised as an ambulance to an isolated abandoned medical facility where she delivers a lifelike prosthetic infant.
The sequence culminates with the two men abandoning the mother at the facility while placing the prosthetic baby in a sealed bag and transporting it toward Mexico. In the final scenes, Loudermilk attempts to discharge projectiles from his fabricated buttocks apparatus, while Aboud chooses to drop the prosthetic infant—suspended from a drone at significant height—to the ground to prevent it from touching American soil.
How did Aboud respond to learning about his involvement?
When contacted by The Guardian, Aboud stated that he had been told the project was a documentary about border crossings, and that producers later introduced the Israeli self-defence instructor character. When pressed about whether he stands by his actions in the film, Aboud declined to provide further comment. His shock at his participation is particularly notable given that he and Loudermilk both appear in the second trailer for the film, which was released a fortnight before the article's publication.
What clues were visible in promotional materials?
The second trailer released in advance of the film's opening contained considerable indicators that the project was not what it appeared to be. In his address to the recruits, Morad—a character who featured regularly in Baron Cohen's 2018 television programme Who is America?—advises the group that immigrants
"are not coming here to mow your lawn, trim your trees, rake your leaves, clean your house, care for your babies, bus your tables, wash your cars, paint your houses, build your fences, install your roofs, drywall, plumbing or electric. They are coming to kill you."
What other controversial segments appear in the film?
Another section features Ali G hosting a "free speech" web programme in which he reads a questionable script provided by South African producer Dirk Visser. The character also oversees a gameshow of Visser's design in which contestants race against time to place mannequins depicting "undesirables"—including rappers, gay people, Muslims and Mexican infants—into pretend shower cubicles before pressing a button to seemingly activate the release of the poisonous gas Zyklon B. The segment concludes with a mass Nazi salute.
Among those participating in this sequence is disgraced former Republican congressman George Santos, who remarks to the camera that his takeaway from the game is that he would attempt to grab more infants next time, as they are easier to fit in the shower. In correspondence with The Guardian, Santos suggested he was unaware of the true nature of the film, stating that
"me and my team had no involvement,"and declined to justify his behaviour.
What is Loudermilk's position?
Loudermilk has not responded to requests for comment, though his social media activity suggests a different level of awareness about the project compared to most other participants. Earlier this week, he posted on Facebook that
"I got to spend 12 hours one on one with Sasha [sic] and he taught me soooo much about the fun of making others laugh"along with a link to a video promotional trailer for the film, stating
"I am in the trailer."On 10 January, he also posted a headshot of himself, saying:
"Howdy. Done with Sasha Cohen movie and ready for more."Representatives for the film have informed The Guardian that Loudermilk was unaware of the true nature of the project.
What is the broader context for the film?
The film marks a return to the Ali G character for Baron Cohen. More than 300 fans participated in an official Ali G lookalike competition earlier in October as part of the film's promotional campaign. However, the character has faced longstanding criticism for perpetuating racial stereotypes, and renewed criticism of the film has circulated online following its announcement.
When does the film release?
The film is scheduled to open in cinemas on 23 October 2026. According to reports, a second trailer was released on 22 October, with Picturehouse theaters declining to show the film.
