While Will Smith’s infamous slap to Chris Rock at the Oscars was an unprecedented incident that took everyone by surprise, the Academy Awards has historically been known to work behind the scenes to ensure that any unplanned impromptu incidents do not take place. British comedian Sacha Baron Cohen who is known for his outlandish comedic characters like Ali G and Borat was a star who was always on the radar of the organizers for his unpredictable behavior.
In the 2016 Oscars, Baron Cohen, who was to present an award, was specially instructed by the organizing team about the etiquette to follow while appearing on stage. Despite the warning, the celebrity was able to overturn protocol to make a memorable entry with the help of his wife, Isla Fisher.
How Sacha Baron Cohen Broke Oscar Rules
The sanctity and importance of the Academy Awards night is a well-known fact worldwide. It is an evening where the best artists are honored for their stupendous performances in the film industry. Expectedly, there is a certain decorum and protocol that celebrities are required to follow while accepting or presenting awards. British funnyman Sacha Baron Cohen, who is known for his daring, no-holes-barred depictions of human behavior, once revealed that he was warned by the Academy before presenting an award.
The Borat star, who was to appear on stage as a presenter in the 2016 Oscars, spoke of the strict ban that was imposed on him by the organizing committee of the Academy Awards who feared that the actor may break protocol by coming as one of his eccentric characters who could say controversial things. Ultimately, the star managed to evade all restrictions by walking on stage as the iconic Ali G. Recalling the incident on the red carpet that appeared in Good Morning Britain, Baron Cohen said,
“The truth is we actually had to sneak it in because the Oscars set me down before and said they didn’t want me to do anything out of order. They wanted me to actually just present it as myself”.
The Dictator star’s wife Isla Fisher who was his partner-in-crime in this famous deception managed to stow her husband’s clothes in the toilet for him to change and ensured that Sacha Baron Cohen was able to make a grand entry onto the stage as the inimitable Ali G.
The Time Sacha Baron Cohen Targeted Mark Zuckerberg
While Sacha Baron Cohen was able to bypass the Academy’s warnings to appear on stage as Ali G, the British star reserved his bold statements for the Golden Globes 4 years later. In the 2020 awards season, Baron Cohen took the stage to introduce Best Picture Comedy or Musical nominee Jojo Rabbit and used the platform to make a pointed criticism of Facebook creator Mark Zuckerberg. In a quote that appeared in The Independent, the celebrity said,
“The hero of this next movie is a naive, misguided child who spreads Nazi propaganda and only has imaginary friends. His name is Mark Zuckerberg.”
Later that year, The Trial of the Chicago 7 actor launched a scathing attack on many social media giants including Facebook and Twitter, calling them the greatest propaganda machine in history. The actor and comedian used his ADL International Leadership Award acceptance speech to call out the companies for amplifying hatred and violence in society. Baron Cohen also addressed the discrepancies in fact-checking by these platforms while running political advertisements.
Source: Good Morning Britain, The Independent
