Sacha Baron Cohen has taken a playful swipe at the organisers of the Academy Awards, after the comedian was told he could not attend the ceremony as the character of his new film The Dictator, wearing military regalia.
Baron Cohen, who has previously appeared at music awards ceremonies as his other characters Borat and Bruno, planned to use the Oscars to promote his new film about the fictional dictator who rules over the Republic of Wadiya.
But after his request to do so was rejected, he adopted the persona of dictator alter ego 'His Excellency Admiral General Aladeen' to record a video message sending a tongue-in-cheek warning to the event's organisers.
In the short video, General Aladeen labels the Academy of Motion Pictures Art and Sciences ‘zionists’.
“While I applaud the Academy for taking away my right to free speech,” the General says.
“I warn you if you do not lift your sanctions and give me my tickets back you will face unimaginable consequences.”
He then laments the fact that the Academy has failed to recognise "classic" films such as “When Harry Kidnapped Sally” and “You’ve Got Mailbomb”.
The Academy has since clarified that while it has banned Baron Cohen attending as his character from The Dictator he is welcome to attend this weekend's ceremony as himself.
Producer of the Oscars Brian Grazer told Access Hollywood that Cohen even had a role to play at the show, though not as General Aladeen.
"Sacha Baron Cohen, we absolutely respect him as an artist and he's allowed to come. He's coming," Grazer told the show.
During the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards Baron-Cohen descended from the ceiling as his gay character Bruno and his bare buttocks landed squarely in Eminem’s face prompting the rapper to storm out of the show.
He later revealed it was a pre-arranged promotional stunt.
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