Ali G Sequel Sparks Controversy Over AI and Political Activism

Sacha Baron Cohen's satirical sequel, 'Ali G: Who Iz I?', has generated significant off-screen controversy, involving sophisticated digital activism. The film's trailer debut on August 25, 2026, prompted immediate backlash regarding its portrayal of the iconic character. Critics like Afua Hirsch argued the humor was outdated and offensive, sexualizing Black women and mocking working-class individuals.

Cohen anticipated criticism, but the subsequent outcry amplified significantly. A notable element of the boycott has been a UK-based online platform, NewsCord, which characterized Cohen's work as 'blackface.' NewsCord utilized an AI-driven system to send approximately 55,000 emails to pressure exhibitors, including major chains in the UK and US, to refuse screening the film. Picturehouse, a British cinema chain, informed NewsCord it was not planning to screen the movie, which the platform hailed as a victory.

NewsCord was incubated by Tech for Palestine, an organization aiming to "shut down genocidal speech." This organization has faced criticism for its efforts to influence Wikipedia pages related to the Israel-Palestine conflict. Tech for Palestine's founder, Paul Biggar, has also accused Israel of "astroturfing IMDb's review system" and encouraged downvoting documentaries about the October 7, 2024, massacre. Another Tech for Palestine venture, Boycat, has promoted boycotts of Disney films due to their casting of Israeli actresses Gal Gadot and Shira Haas.

Cohen, a prominent Jewish figure in Hollywood, has a history of using satire to expose prejudice. His executive producer, Monica Levinson, expressed dismay at the "coordinated, messaging and scale of the attack" on Cohen, particularly given his Jewish identity. Cohen himself noted that much of the social media activity was orchestrated and targeted prominent Jews, a trend he views with concern.