Ali G returns for new film, sparking debate over racial stereotypes

According to BBC Culture, Ali G made a viral appearance at the Wimbledon men's final in July. The stunt promoted the upcoming sequel Ali G: Who Iz I?, which opens on 23 October 2026.

BBC Culture reported that more than 300 fans attended an official lookalike competition in London, ferried on an open-top bus that stopped at Big Ben, Leicester Square and Covent Garden.

Critics have long accused the character of perpetuating racial stereotypes, BBC Culture said. Labour MP Paulette Hamilton called the character racist on the Jeremy Vine show, the outlet reported.

Baron Cohen acknowledged an inevitable backlash when he announced the sequel, writing on X: 'In an age where a comedian's career can be ended by a single un-PC joke, I thought I'd play it safe and bring this guy back,' according to BBC Culture. He also said he was tired of death threats that follow his work, The Hollywood Reporter reported.

The Hollywood Reporter described the film as featuring an imbecilic white rapper who speaks in Caribbean-British slang and a contraption that shoots bullets out of one's rear end. The film will be released in cinemas before streaming on Amazon Prime Video, the outlet said.

BBC Culture reported that social media campaigns urge viewers to boycott the film. Baron Cohen shared a video on a newly created Instagram account featuring a grey-haired academic urging a boycott, the outlet said.