While Will Smith’s infamous slap to Chris Rock at the Oscars was an unprecedented incident that took everyone by surprise, the Academy Awards have historically been known to work behind the scenes to ensure that no unplanned impromptu incidents occur. British comedian Sacha Baron Cohen, known for his outlandish comedy characters such as Ali G and Borat, was a star who was always on organizers’ radar for his unpredictable behavior.
At the 2016 Oscars, Baron Cohen, who was to present the award, was specifically briefed by the organizing team on the etiquette rules to follow when appearing on stage. Despite the warning, the celebrity was able to overturn the protocol and make a memorable recording with the help of his wife Isla Fisher.
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How Sacha Baron Cohen broke Oscar rules
The sanctity and importance of Oscar night is a well-known fact all over the world. It is an evening that honors top artists for their amazing performances in the film industry. There are certain rules of decorum and protocol that celebrities are expected to follow when accepting or presenting awards. British humorist Sacha Baron Cohen, known for his bold and frank depictions of human behavior, once said that the Academy warned him before presenting an award.
Borate The star, who was due to appear on stage as a presenter at the 2016 Oscars, spoke about the strict ban imposed on him by the Oscar organizing committee, who feared that the actor might break protocol by appearing as one of their eccentric characters who might say controversial things. Ultimately, the star managed to bypass all restrictions by appearing on stage in the image of the iconic Ali G. Recalling the incident on the red carpet while appearing on Good Morning Britain, Baron Cohen said:
“The truth is we really had to push through it because Oscar humiliated me before and said he didn’t want me to do anything out of order. They wanted me to just present it as myself.”
Dictator The star’s wife, Isla Fisher, who was his accomplice in this famous deception, managed to hide her husband’s clothes in the toilet so he could change, and made sure that Sacha Baron Cohen could make a grand entrance on stage as the inimitable Ali G. .
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The time Sacha Baron Cohen took aim at Mark Zuckerberg
Although Sacha Baron Cohen managed to bypass the Academy’s warnings and appear on stage as Ali G, the British star saved his bold statements for the Golden Globes four years later. During the 2020 awards season, Baron Cohen took the stage to introduce the nominee for Best Comedy Film or Musical. Jojo Rabbit and used the platform to sharply criticize Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg. In a quote published in The Independent, the celebrity said:
“The hero of the next film is a naive, lost child who spreads Nazi propaganda and has only imaginary friends. His name is Mark Zuckerberg.”
Later that year Trial of the Chicago 7 The 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 speech at the ADL International Leadership Awards to call out companies for increasing hatred and violence in society. Baron Cohen also called attention to inconsistencies in the fact-checking practices of these platforms when running political ads.
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Source: Good Morning Britain, The Independent.