Ali G’s first film in decades will hit UK cinemas in October but there are growing calls for theatres to refuse to show it claiming Ali is a 'cover to laugh at Jamaican culture'15:21, 31 Aug 2026Updated 15:21, 31 Aug 2026A fierce backlash is mounting against Sacha Baron Cohen's return as Ali G with a petition to ban the new film from cinemas gaining momentum.‌As the weed-smoking head of the Staines Massive returns to the role after almost 25 years, the trailer for Ali G Who Iz I? has provoked upset with the Hollywood star accused of using his comedy as a "cover for enforcing racist stereotypes".‌The character was first invented as "the voice of youth" on Channel 4's The 11 O'Clock Show in 1998. Then in the 2000s he led the Da Ali G Show, and then had his own starring role in the 2002 film Ali G Indahouse. Now, 23 years since the first film was released, a new trailer for the sequel is out and shows Ali G face becoming a father and moving to the US in order to provide from his family.‌But after the character was a hit in the 90s, 2026 audiences have called the act 'outdated' and 'offensive.' Picturehouse Cinemas – which has operates 25 theatres in the UK - has already said that it is "unlikely" to be showing the film.‌Now NewsCord, a UK news comparison and media monitoring platform, have added pressure saying the act is outdated - and wants cinemas around the world to refuse to screen the movie, which is due out in October.Writing on X the post read: "Ali G is a cover to laugh at Jamaican culture. The character enforces harmful stereotypes of how a Jamaican man behaves in society."Ali G smokes weed, is a misogynist, and does nothing meaningful in life. He does this because he thinks this is what a Jamaican does.‌"The world laughs at Ali G. But the real butt of the joke are Black people and specifically Jamaicans,' they added. 'This is evident in a number of Baron Cohen's films, where a race or religion is the victim of the "joke"."Black British comedians called the character "an alibi for racism" in 2000; Jeanette Winterson asked what separates it from the Black and White Minstrels; Kazakh and Arab organisations documented the harm of the catalogue behind it. Sony Pictures UK is selling it with the line "He iz back. We ain't liable".'‌"The screens belong to the chains, and a booking is a choice,"NewsCord said on social media.The trailer has already left fans with mixed reactions, while some commenting that the humour and character is outdated, and others suggesting that 2026 is the perfect time for the character to return.It shows that Sacha is set to prank retired US army general Stewart Rodeheaver, and an individual who may be the Canadian DJ and producer Deadmau5. Ed Sheeran also catches a stray within the first few minutes as Ali G's narration states that since he has been away: “the world went to crap: there was Covid, wars and Ed Sheeran”.‌The synopsis reads: "After twenty years spent “chillin’, tokin’ and bonin’”, Ali G is shocked to discover that his long-term girlfriend, Julie, is 8 months pregnant. Faced with an extra mouth to feed, he gets off his batty and heads to America to reclaim his former glory… but soon encounters adversaries who will ultimately threaten his and his child’s very existence.""Watched the new Ali G trailer: unfortunately I just do not think Sacha Baron Cohen is funny anymore, which is tough when he's making a new comedy film. 20 years ago he had me in stitches: the Borat film was only funny if you'd never watched the series, and the sequel sucked," said one commenter on X."Ok now after seeing the actual trailer the new Ali G film doesn’t look quite as bad as I thought… It’s just another long documentary of him taking the piss out of people and making them horrendously awkward… No one does second hand embarrassment like Sacha," said another.Article continues belowLike this story? For more of the latest showbiz news and gossip, follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Threads.