El Paso GOP chair plans to sue Sacha Baron Cohen over film role
Michael Aboud says he did not know Ali G: Who Iz I? was satirical until The Guardian contacted him about his appearance.
Michael Aboud, chair of the El Paso County Republican Party, said he plans to sue Sacha Baron Cohen over his unwitting appearance in the film Ali G: Who Iz I?, according to comingsoon.net.
In the film, Aboud takes part in a fake training programme led by Cohen's character Col Erran Morad. He and Joshua Loudermilk, a former preacher, later take part in a staged mission involving a fake ambulance and a prosthetic baby.
Aboud said he did not know the project was satirical until The Guardian contacted him. He said the film crew told him the project would be a documentary about border crossings, and called Cohen a "pervert".
Loudermilk posted on Facebook about spending 12 hours with Cohen; film representatives said he did not know the project's true nature. Former Republican congressman George Santos also appears in the film in a staged gameshow involving Nazi imagery, and told The Guardian he had "no involvement".
Quick answers
Who is suing Sacha Baron Cohen?
Michael Aboud, chair of the El Paso County Republican Party, said he plans to sue Cohen over his appearance in Ali G: Who Iz I?.
What is Ali G: Who Iz I? about?
The film features Cohen's character Col Erran Morad leading a fake training programme that Aboud took part in.
Did George Santos appear in the film?
Yes. He appears in a staged gameshow involving Nazi imagery and told The Guardian he had "no involvement".