Should Amazon cancel 'Borat Subsequent Moviefilm'? Petition slams film as 'racist' for 'bullying' Kazakhs
Sacha Baron Cohen's 2006 film 'Borat' was one of the most controversial films of all times. Now, Cohen is back with its sequel titled 'Borat Subsequent Moviefilm'. The film was the first to resume shooting during the Covid-19 pandemic as Cohen wanted the film to release before the election day. Even though the mockumentary reveals some harsh truths about society, it has also raised a major "racism" concern among people.
Blurring the lines between a staged shtick and candid camera routine, Cohen's film came just before the US Presidential Elections. Right from the most provocative political references to some questionable racist comments, the film looked like a package of controversies. Now, Change.org has come up with a petition demanding, "Amazon and Prime Video, stop the release of the racist “Borat 2” film in the UK and worldwide."
The petition slams Cohen, who comes from a wealthy background, for picking on Kazakhstan inhabited by Kazakhs where "majority of whom are Asian, and so people of colour, and racially abuse, culturally appropriate and mock their culture, traditions and people for crude racist laughs and profit". The petition also questions Amazon, and asks, "this racist film openly berating, bullying and traumatizing a nation of people of colour somehow is acceptable entertainment meeting Amazon's values?"
The petition that is filed by Lola Askarova describes Kazakhstan as a "beautiful country famous for hospitality". It further reads: "More than 100 nations co-exist peacefully there and historically it served as a refuge for those fleeing war and political oppression. Kazakhs are well educated and live all over the world. We have rich cultural heritage which has been twisted and stereotyped by Mr Cohen twice, first in Borat and now in Borat 2. All cast in his films are non Kazakh, in fact they are predominantly white. If Mr Cohen was mocking Chinese, Black people, Native Americans, Jewish or any other such 'high profile' nationality, there would have been an international uproar and he would have been outcast with studios refusing to work with him."
Calling the film a "bully", Askarova further wrote, "Since the release of Borat, many Kazakhs have experienced mental turmoil, suffering and extreme insult. Many of us have to explain to our giggling white friends that this portrayal of us is fake and wrong. Our children are at risk of bullying. No one should stream or support Borat 2, it should be boycotted and Mr Cohen has to stop being a racist bully. He needs to urgently and honestly address his white privilege and reassess his racist portrayal of a Kazakh nation."
The film will release on October 23, 2020, on Amazon Prime Videos. You can see the petition here.