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Is the Real Borat Being Shut Out of the Limelight?
Mahir Cagri of Izmir, Turkey, says British comedian Sasha Baron-Cohen's character Borat is a ripoff of Cagri. "He try to take stolen many things from my side and my character," Cagri says. "I am original."
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Audiences have been drawn to Borat, British comedian Sasha Baron Cohen's character with mangled English, a lack of political correctness, and an unflattering wardrobe.
Last week, the hit mockumentary film Borat was nominated for two Golden Globe Awards -- for best picture and for best actor for Baron Cohen. The film depicts Borat, a bumbling TV journalist from Kazakhstan, as he travels across the United States.
But some observers have noted some similarities between the character and a man who became an accidental celebrity on the Internet several years ago: Turkish bachelor, Mahir Cagri.
Now 44, Cagri says Baron Cohen copied him in creating the Borat character.
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But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
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