Picturehouse Cinemas has confirmed it has no current plans to show the upcoming Ali G film, Ali G: Who Iz I?, as the character faces renewed criticism over its portrayal of Black culture.
The mockumentary marks Sacha Baron Cohen's first big-screen outing as Ali G in more than two decades, with a new trailer released this week ahead of its scheduled UK cinema release on 23 October.
Cinema Chain Responds to Campaign
A representative for Picturehouse, which operates 25 cinemas across the UK including 11 in London, told Metro: “We currently do not have any plans to screen this film on its release.”
The decision follows a campaign urging major UK cinema chains to refuse to screen the film, with critics claiming it “enforcing racist stereotypes” under the guise of satire.
Character's History of Controversy
Ali G, first played by Baron Cohen in 1998, is a white man from Staines who mimics Black-British mannerisms in dress and speech. The character headlined his own Channel 4 series and the 2002 film Ali G Indahouse, and has been retired on and off since 2007.
Criticism of the character dates back to his early days on The 11 O'Clock Show. In 2000, a group of prominent Black comedians accused Baron Cohen of offensive racist behaviour. Felix Dexter of The Real McCoy said at the time: “I feel that a lot of the humour is laughing at black street culture and it is being celebrated because it allows the liberal middle classes to laugh at that culture in a safe context where they can retain their sense of political correctness.”
Baron Cohen Pre-empts Criticism
Ahead of the film's release, Baron Cohen addressed the backlash on X, writing: “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.”
The Independent has contacted Baron Cohen's representatives and Amazon MGM Studios for comment on the Picturehouse decision.
