Oscars: Organizers warn "Borat" star against PR on red carpet
The organizers of the Academy Awards have warned British comedian Sacha Baron Cohen not to use the red carpet this coming Sunday for PR stunts. However, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences decided against revoking his invitation.
"The Academy would be delighted to have Sacha on the show," a spokeswoman said on Thursday: "We have let him know how we feel about using the red carpet for a publicity stunt and are waiting for his response." Earlier, there were reports that the star of Borat was planning to attend the awards ceremony in disguise to promote his new film The Dictator. The comedian stars in Martin Scorsese's film Hugo, which has been nominated eleven times for an Oscar.
Baron Cohen is well known for his outrageous appearances. To promote his film Borat about a fictional Kazakh television reporter, he appeared at the 2006 Toronto Film Festival in a cart pulled by a "peasant woman". At the 2009 MTV Movie Awards, he let himself down from the ceiling dressed as an angel and landed in the lap of rapper Eminem. His indignation later turned out to be premeditated.
The Dictator will be released in cinemas in the USA in May. In it, Baron Cohen plays the leading role of a full-bearded ruler "who risks his life to ensure that democracy never comes to his so devotedly oppressed country". (SDA/AFP)
(Image: Keystone)
