Staines-upon-Thames is distancing itself from Ali G once again, with the town's ten-screen Vue cinema refusing to show the new film Ali G Who Iz I?, despite Sacha Baron Cohen appearing at the venue last week in character to promote it.
The comedy, which brings back the spoof rapper after nearly 25 years, is playing at more than 70 other Vue locations across the UK but not at the Staines branch. Vue has yet to explain the decision not to screen the film there.
Rebrand after Ali G association
The Surrey town was renamed Staines-upon-Thames in 2012, after councillors voted to change the name following years of association with Ali G, who called Staines a 'ghetto' and appeared on a blinged-out mobility scooter. Last month, officials rejected a petition calling for a statue of the character.
Local MP Colin Davis, who backed the name change, said at the time: "Ali G may have had a role, but I think it goes back further than that. I regard Ali G as someone who put Staines on the map, we're just telling people where it is."
Mixed reviews and backlash
Ali G Who Iz I? has been largely panned by critics, holding a 48 per cent score on review site Rotten Tomatoes. Critics have accused the actor of perpetuating racial stereotypes, and a petition has been launched to ban the film from theatres, with 2026 audiences calling the act 'outdated' and 'offensive'.
The character first appeared as "the voice of youth" on Channel 4's The 11 O'Clock Show in 1998, later fronting Da Ali G Show in the 2000s and starring in the 2002 film Ali G Indahouse.
Supporters push for celebration
Not everyone is against the character. Local Alex Balkan started a petition to pressure the council into celebrating Ali G, saying: "Ali G and the Staines Massive have given Staines a distinctive place in British popular culture. The release of a new film provides an opportunity to celebrate that connection, promote the town centre and create a lasting community benefit."
Balkan added: "The petition does not ask the Council to immediately purchase a statue using Council Tax. It asks the Council to bring together the right partners, test a temporary attraction and consider a permanent landmark where it is feasible, properly licensed and externally funded. We believe Staines should embrace the attention with humour and pride, while using it to support the next generation of the Staines Massive."
The film is set to arrive on streaming less than a week after its cinematic release.
