Campaign to Ban New Ali G Film Gains Traction Across UK Cinemas

The trailer for Amazon MGM’s upcoming mock-documentary “Ali G: Who Iz I?” has ignited a backlash in the United Kingdom, with many online users calling the character an antiquated and racist caricature. In response, the media-monitoring platform NewsCord started a petition to stop the film’s theatrical release, claiming to have dispatched more than 36,000 emails to cinema operators on behalf of supporters. The campaign references a 2000 newspaper article where Black British comedians, including Felix Dexter, argued that Ali G served as an “alibi for racism.”

Writers such as Jeanette Winterson and Afua Hirsch have also voiced criticism, describing the satire as out of step with contemporary sensibilities. NewsCord highlighted a reply from Picturehouse Cinemas, interpreting it as a refusal to screen the movie, though the chain clarified the message was a routine response to an unbooked title. Phil Clapp of the U.K. Cinema Association reiterated that cinemas will only show films that receive a BBFC certificate and appear commercially viable. Sacha Baron Cohen’s own tweet hinted he expected some controversy but hoped to “play it safe” by reviving the character.