Sacha Baron Cohen Had Wife Sneak His Ali G Costume Into the Oscars

Image by Getty Images

By Maia Efrem March 1, 2016

Not everyone was happy to see the return of Ali G during Sunday’s Oscars telecast.

Sacha Baron Cohen revealed that the Academy wanted him to present alongside Olivia Wilde as himself and not any of his characters. Well, the British comedian was not having any of that. With the help of wife Isla Fisher, who snuck in Cohen’s Ali G costume and helped him put it on in the disabled toilet stall, Cohen delivered some of the funniest lines of the evening.

de #Oscars dem tried to ban me – props to dis honey for getting me ready in secret in de disablist bogs #GrimsbyMovie

Forwarding the News

Thoughtful, balanced reporting from the Forward and around the web, bringing you updated news and analysis each day.

Terms(Required)
I agree to the Forward's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
Email(Required)

A photo posted by GrimsbyOnTour (@sachabaroncohen) on Feb 29, 2016 at 12:24pm PST

Backstage disabled toilet at #Oscars #Grimsbymovie

A photo posted by GrimsbyOnTour (@sachabaroncohen) on Feb 28, 2016 at 8:39pm PST

But it’s okay, he got the blessings of the host beforehand. “I mean there were a few moments I was a bit worried how they’d react to the first gag,” Cohen told ITV. “But I bumped into Chris Rock actually on the way on and pitched him the gag and he gave me the thumbs up so I went for it.”

This is not the first time Cohen has gotten himself in hot water at the Academy Awards. While promoting “The Dictator” in 2012, Cohen showed up as Admiral General Aladeen, “accidentally” s supposed ashes all over a not-so-happy Ryan Seacrest.

The Academy might be livid with Cohen but we can never get enough Ali G. Booyakasha!

Watch the video here:

Maia Efrem is the former research editor and assistant to the editor and was also responsible for the Forward’s annual Salary Survey. Previously she served as the editor of Blognik Beat, a blog written by students who emigrated from or have ties to the Former Soviet Union. Maia is a graduate of Hunter College and Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism.

A message from our CEO & publisher Rachel Fishman Feddersen

I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning, nonprofit journalism during this critical time.

The coming year promises to be filled with more complex and historic developments. We are entering an era where independent, fact-based Jewish journalism will be more important than ever. We need to be ready for whatever 2025 will bring, and with your help, we can be.

We’ve set a goal to raise $260,000 by December 31. That’s an ambitious goal, but one that will give us the resources we need to invest in the high quality news, opinion, analysis and cultural coverage that isn’t available anywhere else.

If you feel inspired to make an impact, now is the time to give something back. Join us as a member at your most generous level.

— Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO