This dictator is becoming his own weapon of mass distraction.
Just days after Academy Awards organizers said Sacha Baron Cohen’s latest movie alter ego would not be welcome at Sunday’s show, Admiral Gen. Shabazz Aladeen has been given the go-ahead to attend.
Oscars producer Brian Grazer told entertainment TV show “Extra” on Friday that the star of “The Dictator” would be there in character after all.
“We’re thrilled to have him and he’ll be on the red carpet dressed as The Dictator,” Grazer said of Cohen.
Aladeen reacted to the Oscars reversal by tweeting on his verified Twitter account, “Victory is ours! Today the mighty nation of Wadiya triumphed over the Zionist snakes of Hollywood. Evil and all those who made Satan their protector were vanquished and driven into the Pacific Sea.”
“What I am trying to say here is that the Academy have surrendered and sent over two tickets and a parking pass! Today Oscar, tomorrow Obama!” he added.
Earlier today, Cohen had responded to the once-ban in character as Gen. Aladeen.
Cohen called “Today” hosts Carl Quintanilla and Ann Curry this morning to express his “outrage” over the Academy’s decision, saying, “I had to delay 30 executions to do this,” and threatening that, if the Academy does not change its mind “oil prices might be raised.”
In addition to the “Today” appearance, Cohen also posted a longer video on YouTube as Aladeen. In the video, Cohen sports a long beard and a military uniform with gold epaulets and does not bother to remove his sunglasses.
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“On behalf of the nation of Wadiya, I am outraged at being banned from the Oscars by the Academy of Motion Pictures of Arts and Zionists,” says Cohen. “While I applaud the Academy from taking away my right to free speech, I warn you that if you do not lift your sanctions and give me my tickets back by 12 p.m. on Sunday, you will face unimaginable consequences.”
The camera then zooms out to reveal General Aladeen on a throne in front of three lavish portraits of himself.
“Furthermore, it is an act of aggression that no Wadiyan films have been recognized by the Academy,” says Cohen. “Where are the nominations for ‘When Harry Kidnapped Sally,’ ‘You’ve Got Mailbomb’ and ‘Planet of the Rapes?'”
Reports had surfaced on Wednesday that Cohen was angling to attend the Academy Awards as Aladeen, much like he attended the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards as his character “Bruno,” when he descended on a zipline and landed with his posterior in rapper Eminem’s face. Cohen has been invited to the Academy Awards because he co-stars in the film “Hugo,” which is nominated for Best Picture.
“The Dictator” opens in theaters in May.