Sacha Baron Cohen's Ali G Returns for 'Who Iz I' Premiere Amid UK Ban Petition

Sacha Baron Cohen revived his iconic Ali G persona for the Los Angeles premiere of his new mockumentary, "Who Iz I," on Wednesday. Cohen, 54, donned the character's signature yellow attire on the red carpet alongside Morgana Robinson, who portrays Ali G's girlfriend, Julie.

Robinson appeared in full character, dressed in a form-fitting bodysuit, sky-high heels, and space buns. The original "Me Julie" character in the 2002 film "Ali G Indahouse" was played by Kellie Bright.

The film's promotional tour has been met with defiance against calls for a ban in UK cinemas. A petition has been launched by campaigners who claim the film and character perpetuate racist stereotypes. The mockumentary, which Cohen directed, was secretly filmed over a year and follows the character's life "since the world went to c**p," alongside his pregnant girlfriend.

"Who Iz I" is scheduled for release in cinemas on October 23. Following the trailer's release in August, NewsCord, a UK-based media monitoring platform, initiated a campaign urging cinemas worldwide not to screen the film. The group stated they have contacted 15 major cinema chains globally with this request. As of publication, the petition had garnered 44,946 signatures. NewsCord cited a 2000 Guardian report quoting Black British comedians who argued that Ali G served as an "alibi for racism," enabling liberal audiences to mock Black street culture while maintaining their sense of political correctness.

Phil Clapp, head of the UK Cinema Association, commented to Variety that cinemas aim to entertain a broad audience and do not function as censors. He stated that exhibition decisions are based on the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) certification and the anticipated audience response.

Cohen addressed the backlash on X, writing, "In an age where a comedian's career can be ended by a single un-PC joke, I thought I'd play it safe and bring this guy back." Reports initially suggested that UK cinema chain Picturehouse would not screen the film. However, Variety later clarified that Picturehouse's response was a standard customer service reply regarding films not yet booked, indicating no final decision had been made.

Cohen first teased the return of Ali G with a surprise appearance at Wimbledon in July, sporting the character's trademark jewelry, tracksuit, and sunglasses. The character originally appeared on Channel 4's "The 11 O'Clock Show" in Autumn 1998. He later starred in "Da Ali G Show" and the 2002 film "Ali G Indahouse." Cohen announced Ali G's retirement in 2007 but later revived the character in 2012 and for "Ali G Rezurection" in 2014, which combined new footage with highlights from "Da Ali G Show."