Borat star attacked in street by man who didn't like his jokes

Sacha Baron-Cohen: The Borat star's jokes didn't go down too well with one New Yorker
11 April 2012
The Weekender

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Borat star Sacha Baron Cohen was punched by a man who didn't like his jokes, it emerged.

Cohen approached the passer-by in a New York street and said in the style of his Kazakh alter ego: "I like your clothings. Are nice! Please may I buying? I want have sex with it."

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But the target of his joke didn't see the funny side and punched Cohen repeatedly in the face, according to The Sun.

Cohen had been on his way to a bar with British actor Hugh Laurie after the pair appeared on US TV show Saturday Night Live.

A friend said: "Sacha couldn't resist playing the fool as Borat, but picked on the wrong person.

"I guess this guy thought he was being attacked by someone unstable and lashed out. Sacha is very lucky he didn't get a much worse beating."

Cohen was said to be shaken up, but did not receive any lasting scars.

This is not the first time Americans have failed to get the Borat joke.

Two US students who appeared in the Borat movie are suing Cohen, claiming they have suffered "mental anguish" after they were filmed making racist and sexist remarks.

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