“We have to explain to our friends, colleagues, and potential employers that ‘Borat Sagdiyev’ does not represent reality.”
The Kazakh American Association has written to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to ask them to disqualify Borat Subsequent Moviefilm from being nominated from any Oscars.
The letter, which is signed by the association’s Chair Ayauly Akylkhan, as well as representatives from the Council on American-Islamic Relations and Hollywood Film Academy LLC , accusses the film of “whitewashing, ethnic stereotyping, racism, cultural appropriation, and xenophobia.”
“Our nation is still recovering from an oppressive colonial past, which is why we do not have substantial media representation,” the letter continues.
“Sacha Baron Cohen understands this fact and exploits Kazakhstan by hijacking our ethnic identity, whitewashing us by portraying us as Eastern Europeans, and inciting harassment toward Kazakh people worldwide. Our people report countless cases of sexual and physical harassment as well as bullying due to the Borat franchise.”
It goes own to say that following the release of the first Borat movie in 2006, “many Kazakhs have experienced psychological trauma and ethnic-based abuse and harassment.”
“We have to explain to our friends, colleagues, and potential employers that ‘Borat Sagdiyev’ does not represent reality.”
“If Mr. Cohen was mocking a Chinese, Black, or Jewish person, there would have been an international uproar and the Academy would not have been considering his racist film for any award nomination. Why is our small nation fair game for public ridicule?”
The first Borat film was nominated for the Best Adapted Screenplay Oscar at the 79th Academy Awards.
Sacha Baron Cohen also won Best Actor in a Motion Picture (Musical or Comedy), at the Golden Globes the same year.
There has already been talk about Maria Bakalova, who plays Borat’s daughter in the film, receiving a nomination.
“She’s an incredible actor,” Baron Cohen said in an interview. “We interviewed 600 young women from all around the world and she’s hilarious. She is one of the most courageous actors in history.”
“If she doesn’t get nominated for an Oscar, then that’s a travesty.”
