NEWS: Borat: The Cost of His Comedy

CELEB: Borat: The Cost of His Comedy

Long ago, in the golden era of humor, comedians were an honest lot. They made light of subjects as varied as airline food, girlfriends, and the often hilarious differences between white people and black people, and the jokes were funny because they were true.

But now, with the rise of the fake newsman, truth has given way to deception. With camera crew in tow, people such as the cast of the Daily Show and Sacha Baron Cohen's alter-ego Borat exploit the powers of the television journalist for cruel ends. Rather than making jokes of their own, they choose everyday people and turn them into jokes. Granted the whole thing is fun to watch, but what of the effects on the objects of our ridicule? The BBC was brave enough to ask this question as they examined the sad aftermath of Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan.

Linda Stein and Grace Welch, two members of a three person group of feminists that appear in the Borat film, thought they would be educating a foreign correspondent named Borat about life in the US from a feminist perspective. Sadly, they had no idea that the conniving Khazikstani harbored a hidden agenda. If they had, perhaps they would not have signed the wavers that they were thrust upon them prior to the interview.

The trio chose to humor Cohen, in spite of his increasingly eccentric behavior, solely because of their own good nature and the repeated encouragement of the producer. It was only when Borat asked the women to lift up their shirts that they decided enough was enough.

Feminists aren't the only people to be victimized by Cohen's shameless antics. Also harmed was Pat Haggerty, a public speaking coach whose attempts to teach comedy to Borat are featured in the film's trailer. While he is a serious professional, Haggerty will now forever be associated with Borat's comments about having sex with his mother and keeping his mentally challenged sibling in a cage.

The man who is suffering the most, though, may be Bobby Rowe. A simple rodeo manager, Rowe's life has taken a turn for the worst after his encounter with Borat. A victim of a clever plan that likely involved "asking" Rowe about his "opinions", Rowe had no choice but to insult both Muslims and homosexuals on camera. Now, he is paying the price.

It breaks the heart to see a simple bigot like Bobby Rowe so traumatized that he cannot even give interviews. And for what, a few laughs? It won't end there, though. Next time, it may be a bigot close to you.

Please, people of SG, I implore you. Do not see the Borat film. Do not support a mustached predator who thrives on the humiliation of others. Instead, perhaps you should rent The Naked Gun, microwave some popcorn, and spend the evening wondering why that handsome O.J. Simpson's career never took off.

I know I will.



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Dammit, I have that same swimsuit, Borat. I daresay it looks better with my black socks, though.

dude, if your stupid enough NOT to research the people ciming to interview you in the first place, you deserve what happens to you.

As a filmmaker, who's made his share of "real life" Mockumentaries (and won awards for them) you deserve what you get. Ask questions people. If you are a normal american, has a normal job, and get a job from a khazakstani reporter, perhaps you should do some follow up

It is common practice in the industry to require a signed release prior to filming.

honestly, i love borat. he get's real reactions from people. that's the point.

edited for spelling

i have to agree with ben.
i'm going to see borat, and i think sacha baron cohen is brilliant.

uh, satire about satire anyone? i'm sure the editor of this article will be among the first to go see this film.

Eh, satire on satire, bah.

Ees NI-I-I-I-I-I-ICE!

For those requiring more research into the evils of Sascha Baron Cohen, HBO will be running the first two seasons of The Ali G. Show back to back on Monday and Tuesday night. I will be watching to see the depths of his depravity.

Whenever I think of "Borat", I think of a growling, pissed off bear in an ice cream truck.

Can. Not, Wait.

I love the sarcasm insinuated in this entry.

I have on Sympathy for anyone featured in the Borat movie.

If they or they're reps had done even five minutes of research about the last name of Borat on the net. They would have known about who this person really was, and what his agenda was going to be in any interview.

They're stupid and unthinking...and that's the gag.

That neon green thing looks like it would hurt in very sensitive places.

Yeah, man, those stupid jerks. How dare they give someone the benefit of the doubt. And then they have the gall to say things like "I've seen the film and parts of it were hilarious... As an interviewee, I have had a lot of mixed feelings about it... I thought about it, I worried about it, and then felt I have to get back to my work. I just have to move on. I'm a New Yorker, all sorts of things happen in New York. I'm not angry." Or the public speaker, that asshole, who broke out this little gem: "'If you let me in on the gag, I will help you reach your goals because I don't care if you're from Kazakhstan, nobody is this crazy.'... they paid me my money and they deserve an hour of my time and I'm going to be as professional as I can." And that he's had "a lot of fun" since being featured in the film. What stupid, unthinking people.

I like.

Remember, if you no watch he be execute.

Yup. They all come off quite well..... apart from the rodeo guy.

Usually I like dry wit, but for some reason I'm tickled by the chickens on the subway bit.

this is the Ali G guy then? i was left assuming then and now that his stuff is aimed at the sorts who find America's Funniest Home Videos watchable...

The hell's wrong with AFV?

Everyone involved in front of the camera DID sign release forms to be featured in the film. However, there has been some question as to the nature of thelanguage on the releases (they clearly didn't state anything about how Borat is a comedy gag). But then again, people tend not to read things they sign anyway, so Borat would have gottten plenty of people to participate anyway.
How about some credit to the crew with Borat (ne, Cohen) who had to act like Borat was totally for real, even when they see the bizarre prank play out in front of them. They should get a collective "best supporting actor" nomination.

Some people will protest anything just to have something to protest. The author of this article needs to lighten up. There are plenty of worthwhile causes to protest.

a) the original author was kidding

b)i dont have a "b" but i'm obsessive compulsive and have to list things.


I only recently started watching borat stuff and my take on it is, if the guy is getting honest answers and opinions out of people, he's doing a hell of a lot better than most reporters that are continually only getting cookie cutter answers from people. Plus he's a fucking madman and i love it.

kudos to the people who still think he's actually from khazikstan and actually trying to learn about the u, s and a. They need to exist for borat to continue existing.

Well how can you tell where the satire ends and the satire begins?!?

haha, I saw a preview for his new movie recently. It showed part of the scene with the feminists. he looked right at them and dead pan said "but how can you say that when women are not nearly as smart as men" one of them got all pissed off and walked away. I almost fell out of my seat at the theater.

I seriously cannot wait til I can get to the cinema to see this. I'm gonna dress as Borat for halloween me thinks