A lot happens in the new Borat movie, a sequel to the 2006 original that launched leading
man Sacha Baron Cohen into the spotlight with a hearty "very nice!", but there's one moment
in particular that has everyone talking.
Officially titled Borat Subsequent Moviefilm: Delivery of Prodigious Bribe to American Regime
for Make Benefit Once Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan, the Borat sequel touched down on Amazon Prime
Video on Friday, October 23 — to much fanfare.
After the world caught wind that Baron Cohen filmed the Borat sequel in secret, reprising
his role as the fictional journalist from Kazakhstan, Borat Sagdiyev, years after saying
he'd retired the character for good — fans were keen to see what the second round of
mockumentary antics would entail.
This time around, after being released from jail following the events of the previous
movie, Borat discovers that he has a 15-year-old daughter named Tutar, whom he wants to teach
to become a perfect "gift" for Vice President Mike Pence. As the movie's title suggests,
this is in an effort to repair Kazakhstan's reputation.
"You have been chosen to be given as a gift to the Vice President."
"I will be the next Queen Melania?"
Of course, Borat 2 features plenty of jaw-dropping scenes, and a hefty serving of political and
social commentary. The most controversial scene of all may be one involving Rudy Giuliani,
the former Mayor of New York City and current personal attorney of President Donald Trump.
The scene has now been uploaded to YouTube, available for everyone to see.
The moment occurs at the height of the film's action, and sees Giuliani in a scene with
Maria Bakalova, the actress who plays 15-year-old Tutar Sagdiyev. (It's worth noting that in
real life, Bakalova is reportedly 24 years old.)
Here, Bakalova's Tutar is masquerading as a journalist who admires Giuliani and who
is nervous to be interviewing him.
"C'mere. You're going to do great. Okay."
The interview is held inside of a hotel suite. When it's over, Giuliani and Bakalova move
to another room, and Giuliani sits down on the bed while asking for Bakalova's email
address and phone number. Then he pats her on the lower back, and appears to lean back
on the bed and begin adjusting his pants after Bakalova adjusts his shirt.
Baron Cohen, in disguise, then bursts into the room.
"Oh." "She fifteen! She too old for you."
"Why are you dressed like this?"
As with the original Borat movie, much of the sequel is comprised of real-life interactions
with people who don't know exactly what kind of a movie they're involved in. Considering
that Giuliani didn't know the interview was involved in was fake, many have expressed
concern and outrage at Giuliani's interactions with Bakalova.
According to Page Six, Giuliani quickly called the police after his encounter with Sacha
Baron Cohen was over, realizing that he was the victim — or, as he described it, the
attempted victim — of a prank. He told the outlet in July 2020,
"This person comes in yelling and screaming, and I thought this must be a scam or a shake-down,
so I reported it to the police. He then ran away. I only later realized it must have been
Sacha Baron Cohen. I thought about all the people he previously fooled and I felt good
about myself because he didn't get me."
At the time, Giuliani even acknowledged being familiar — and even fond of — the comedian's
work. He told the outlet,
“I am a fan of some of his movies, Borat in particular, because I’ve been to Kazakhstan."
Following the release of Borat 2 and the controversy that's sparked around his scene, Giuliani
took to Twitter to address the situation, defending himself in a multi-tweet thread.
He wrote,
"The Borat video is a complete fabrication. I was tucking in my shirt after taking off
the recording equipment. At no time before, during, or after the interview was I ever
inappropriate. If Sacha Baron Cohen implies otherwise he is a stone-cold liar."
Giuliani continued, arguing that the content of the scene was exaggerated through editing,
and is meant to be a distraction from his involvement in the U.S. presidential race
between incumbent president Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden.
During an October 23 appearance on Good Morning America, the same day Borat 2 debuted, Baron
Cohen responded to Giuliani's remarks, saying,
"If the President's lawyer found what he did there appropriate behavior, then heaven knows
what he's done with other female journalists in hotel rooms."
"It is what it is. He did what he did. And make your own mind up. It was pretty clear
to us."
Baron Cohen said. He then added that he was, quote, "quite concerned" for Bakalova during
the scene, which he was overseeing from a hidden nearby location.
"It's my responsibility as a producer as well to ensure the lead actor is looked after."
Bakalova, on the other hand, assured that she didn't feel like she was in any danger
during the scene with Giuliani.
"I've always felt safe with our team, with our crew, with Sacha in my corner. I actually
never felt that I've been in danger.”
On the official Twitter account for Borat Sagdiyev, Baron Cohen released an in-character
video addressing the Giuliani situation — coming to the attorney's defense. Saying that he's
speaking up to defend, quote, "America's Mayor," Cohen-as-Borat offered up some likely unwelcome
assistance, saying,
"What was an innocent sexytime encounter between a consenting man and my 15-year-old daughter
have been turned into something disgusting by fake news media."
"I warn you. Anyone else try this, and Rudolph will not hesitate to reach into his legal
briefs and whip out his subpoenas."
Overall, this situation is both unexpected and uncomfortable, though considering this
is a Borat movie, we're not sure how it could've gone any other way.
Borat Subsequent Moviefilm is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video now.
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