British Government Disavows Sacha Baron Cohen, Borat

Today the British Government disavowed Sacha Baron Cohen, and peerless Kazakh journalist, Borat-- I think. (my observations in italics):

British Ambassador to Kazakhstan Comments on Sacha Baron Cohen

Paul Brummel, new British ambassador to Kazakhstan, has made some comments today, January 31, at a press conference in Almaty, responding to a question on British comedian Sacha Baron Cohen who often performs as a fictional Kazakh journalist, Borat, Kazakhstan Today reports.

I wonder who was the Kazakh journalist questioning the ambassador.

In particular, the ambassador has said that "what Sacha Baron Cohen is trying to do is not to represent Kazakhstan in a bad light through his eccentric antics, but to show prejudices still existing in the British society." It is first of all directed against the British themselves, Mr. Brummel said.

"(Borat)... is not to represent Kazakhstan in a bad light through his eccentric antics" Oh? I wonder what he would say if he was trying to portray them in a bad light?

"trying to show...prejudices still existing in British society."  If he was trying show British prejudices, wouldn't Borat focus on British dental hygiene or the Queen's pocketbooks rather than Kazakhs drinking camels milk? or golfing with goats heads? Ok, polo, not golf.

Mr. Brummel said that "we should think more about how vague are ideas of the British about what is Kazakhstan and how little they know about it. It is our common task: for me as for a diplomat and for you as journalists to show to the British and to the Western community what is Kazakhstan in 2006 and how much it is different from how Borat is presenting it," - he said.

Huh?

In his view, "looking at Borat, anyone who has the slightest idea about what is Kazakhstan will for sure realize that this character has nothing to do with Kazakhstan."

I think this story was written by Borat.

Comments

[Lola]

Vanity Fair did a profile of Sacha Baron Cohen about two years ago, and the Borat character was highly featured. Makes you wonder how plugged in the diplomatic folks are in the UK. His show featuring Ali G, was already joke. Maybe Posh and Becks for PM?

[Paul]

You would think with a new ambassador, the Brits would make sure he was well versed on the trials and tribulations of Borat.
Lola, speaking of the Brits, movies and dining, ever see Albert Finney in "Tom Jones?"

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0057590/