Ali G writer defends new film as Black British comics criticise stereotypes
Colton Dunn, one of three Black writers on Ali G: Who Iz I?, has defended Sacha Baron Cohen's return as Ali G against claims the character relies on racial stereotypes, in an exclusive interview published by Deadline on 23 September Deadline. Dunn said he did not recognise the criticisms. He said Baron Cohen had stayed faithful to Ali G's origins.
He does not agree with the description of the character as racist. "From my point of view, Ali G is not a racist character. Ali G is a tool to expose racists," Dunn told Deadline. He spoke as the Amazon MGM Studios film faces an online campaign in Britain. That campaign followed a viral trailer and calls to keep the film out of British cinemas.
Black British comedians Gina Yashere and Curtis Walker told Deadline the new film perpetuates racial stereotypes, diminishes the Black experience and appropriates culture. Yashere described the performance as ostensibly adopting Blackface, meaning darkening skin to imitate a Black person, and "cosplaying" as another race. Walker called Ali G "degrading" and "disgusting" and said it was "sad" that Amazon MGM Studios was backing the character rather than Black creators.
The trailer also drew public support for Ali G's return from Jack Black, Tom Brady and Diplo, Deadline reported. Vue is among the cinema chains planning to show the film when Sony releases it in the United Kingdom on 23 October. Neither Baron Cohen nor Amazon MGM Studios commented for Deadline's story.
Yashere and Walker first raised concerns about Ali G 26 years ago in interviews with New Nation, a newspaper for Britain's Black community. At the premiere of Ali G in Da House in London's Leicester Square in 2002, protesters held placards comparing Ali G to Al Jolson, the early Hollywood performer known for performing in Blackface.
Baron Cohen completed the new Ali G film this summer, 24 years after Ali G was last seen on the big screen in Ali G Indahouse, according to The Guardian The Guardian. The first full trailer, released in August, shows him returning as Ali G in a series of pranks The Guardian. Those targets include Buzz Aldrin and Donald Trump, alongside a retired United States general.
Deadline first reported the backlash in August, when it detailed calls for a cinema boycott and criticism of the trailer over racist stereotypes. That earlier report set out the objections that Dunn has now answered. The dispute leaves the October release facing both organised opposition and high-profile endorsements.
