Sacha Baron Cohen - Oscar controversy rumors
Sacha Baron Cohen attends the "Hugo" premiere at the Ziegfeld Theatre in New York City. (Nov. 21, 2011) Credit: Getty Images
Who knew the Academy Awards had such a strict dress code?
Sacha Baron Cohen reportedly saw his invitation to Sunday's 84th annual Oscar ceremony revoked -- and tentatively restored -- after organizers learned of his plans to show up wearing the outfit of the main character in his upcoming comedy, "The Dictator." In the film, Cohen plays Admiral General Aladeen, ruler of the tiny Republic of Wadiya, whose military get-up and bushy beard has drawn comparisons to Saddam Hussein and Moammar Gadhafi.
What happened to Cohen's invitation isn't exactly clear. The media industry website Deadline.com reported that his tickets were "pulled" and that the actor had been "banned," though The Hollywood Reporter quoted an Academy representative denying the ban and saying, "We're just waiting to hear what he's going to do."
Other reports said Cohen is welcome if he would come as himself and not in character.
On republicofwadiya.com Thursday it was announced that "Admiral General Aladeen will deliver a formal response tomorrow morning to being banned from the Oscars by the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Zionists."
Cohen has made a career out of turning bystanders into unwitting straight men with his HBO series "Da Ali G Show," the 2006 mockumentary "Borat" and its 2009 follow-up, "Bruno." At the 2006 Toronto Film Festival, he showed up dressed as Borat on a cart pulled by women in peasant dress.
Cohen plays a suspicious train-station inspector in Martin Scorsese's "Hugo," which is up for a leading 11 nominations, including best picture.
