Zoya Nasir questions praise for Sacha Baron Cohen's Pakistan shoutout

Pakistani actor Zoya Nasir has questioned the widespread praise for Hollywood comedian Sacha Baron Cohen’s recent shoutout to Pakistan, arguing that his history of employing racial and religious stereotypes in his comedy warrants a more critical evaluation of the interaction. This critique arose after a video circulated showing Cohen, in character as Ali G, greeting Pakistani actor Haris Waheed with "Yo, big up the Pakistan, man." While many social media users reacted positively to Cohen's acknowledgment, Nasir expressed concern about what she perceived as a lack of awareness regarding Cohen's past portrayals, which she described as openly hostile towards Muslims and marked by sarcasm and a theatrical sense of superiority. Cohen, known for characters like Borat and Ali G, has consistently defended his work as satire aimed at exposing prejudice, explaining that Ali G, for instance, is a white character whose imitation of gangsta rap is meant to mock both himself and the establishment that takes him seriously. Nasir's comments underscore a significant divide in how Cohen’s controversial comedic style is perceived, especially when such interactions are interpreted as positive gestures.