Feb 24, 2012 by B. Alan Orange
The Dictator General Aladeen Responds to 84th Annual Academy Awards Ban
If you've been paying attention to entertainment news in the last couple of days (which has been tough with the rising gas prices), you know that General Aladeen, The Dictator from the great Republic of Wadiya, has been banned from appearing at this Sunday's 84th Academy Awards Telecast. Sacha Baron Cohen, the alter ego and comedic mastermind behind Aladeen, is welcome to the ceremony, as long as he dresses in his appropriate tuxedo. The actor has frowned at that, and along with Paramount Pictures, has decided instead to use this as a promotional push for The Dictator's May 11th release. Appearing in full costume as General Aladeen on this morning's NBC TODAY Show, Sacha Baron Cohen responded to the ban, applauding the MPAA for taking away his Freedom of Speech, and making claims that Hilary Swank has refused to refund her $2 million escort fee. You can check out the full video below.
The Dictator was released May 16th, 2012 and stars Megan Fox, Sacha Baron Cohen, Anna Faris, Ben Kingsley, John C. Reilly, B.J. Novak, J.B. Smoove, Kevin Corrigan. The film is directed by Larry Charles.
The Academy Awards episode 84.1, "84th Annual Academy Awards" stars Angelina Jolie, Tom Hanks, Tom Cruise, Meryl Streep, Bradley Cooper, Will Ferrell, Ben Stiller, Zach Galifianakis.
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bruce_ha
This man is one of the funniest alive. @felipe-11 Hahahhaha!
1 year agoby @bruce-haFlag
ZanyZap
I think it's pretty funny.
1 year agoby @zanyzapFlag
Justhim_sir
That's an No ladies and gentlemen.
1 year agoby @justhim-sirFlag
B. Alan Orange
@justatadmatt This looks very much like an Adam Sandler movie to me.
1 year agoby @balanorangeFlag
justatadmatt
@gandoff2169 I agree with you on the first half of your statement, but while you may feel the Oscars shouldn't tell people to dress a certain way, I believe there is a certain level of respect and tradition that needs to be upheld for the awards. You know that Cohen wouldn't have shown up in that "Dictator" outfit and been nonchalant. He would have been running around the red carpet making a scene. Cohen is simply trying to take advantage of an opportunity for a movie with cheap humor imho.
Am I the only one who is kind of tired of his "characters"? I feel like he is running the Adam Sandler route, but must faster.
1 year agoby @justatadmattFlag
felipe-11
"While I applaud the Academy for taking away my right for free speech..." LOL
1 year agoby @felipe-11Flag
gandoff2169
I say BOOO to both. I like how Cohen throws himself into this characters full heartily. But the Oscars is not a place to be that character. The Oscars is a place to celebrate that years best works, even if it is ran by the old generation of Hollywood. But the Oscars should not tell him how to come to the award show. It is the old guard trying to smother out, the fringe of the new era of Hollywood. They want to only advertise the movie's "They" picked.
1 year agoby @gandoff2169Flag