Sacha Baron Cohen made a surprise return as his iconic character Ali G at Wimbledon on Sunday, nearly three decades after the persona's inception. The actor, 54, appeared on Centre Court dressed in a white and green Wimbledon-themed tracksuit emblazoned with "Da Championshipz" and a marijuana leaf. He was seen sitting in the stands during the men's singles final between Jannik Sinner and Alexander Zverev, where members of the royal family, including the Prince and Princess of Wales, were also present.
Details emerged revealing Cohen's elaborate plan to infiltrate the event. He reportedly arrived disguised in a mask, sunglasses, hat, and dark jacket, changing into his Ali G attire after an associate brought the costume and prop bags of cannabis into the venue. "There were people hired to go inside Wimbledon with his outfit, and he changed once he got inside and put on his Ali G clobber," a source told The Sun. The actor was also said to have had four bodyguards inside the grounds and one outside for protection, fearing immediate removal.
Footage of the stunt was captured by Cohen's team, intended for use in an upcoming film project. In a video shared from the crowd, Cohen, in character as Ali G, quipped about tennis being a "crap version of ping pong" and alluded to selling cannabis, stating, "Them say that tennis is better played on grass, which is why I intend to sell as much of it while I was here." His social media posts further fueled the stunt, with captions like "I iz BACK!" and offers to sell DVD box sets of his series.
Cohen's Ali G character, known for his catchphrase "Is it coz I is black?", first appeared in 1998 on Channel 4's "The 11 O'Clock Show." The character went on to star in "Da Ali G Show" and the 2002 film "Ali G Indahouse." While Cohen has focused on other projects, including his roles as Borat and other satirical work, this appearance suggests a potential revival or new material for the beloved character. The exact nature of the new project, whether a TV special, online release, or a new series, remains undisclosed.
Cohen had previously attended Wimbledon on Saturday, day 13 of the tournament, dressed as himself in a white suit and green shirt. The resurrection of Ali G has generated significant excitement among long-time fans, eager to see what the comedic figure will do next.