Sacha Baron Cohen

Sacha Baron Cohen has courted controversy over the last couple weeks, first by campaigning to attend the Oscars as his character from The Dictator - Admiral General Aladeen from the fictional Republic of Wadiya - and then by dumping a fake urn of ashes on Ryan Seacrest at the ceremony.

But the National Network for Arab American Communities is taking issue with the actor for a very different reason.

In an Op-Ed for The Huffington Post, Director Nadia Tonova slams Cohen for the "damaging lunacy" of this portrayal, arguing that it perpetuates dangerous stereotypes.

"Arabs are among the few cultures that Hollywood still exploits with impunity," Tonova writes. "Routinely, we are profiled as unsavory or sultry characters - generally terrorists, dictators, sheikhs, oil tycoons or Bedouins. But it's not just Hollywood that perpetuates this imagery.

"These stereotypes are promoted through the media, law enforcement, our courts, legislatures, Congress and our political candidates. They become an ugly message that trickles down to the general public: Arabs and Muslims are untrustworthy; they are un-American; they are... fill the blank."

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In this edition of THG's Academy Awards Fashion Face-Off series, The Dictator, played by Sacha Baron Cohen, takes on Brad Pitt. Didn't see that one coming, we know.

Pitt was nominated for his lead role in Moneyball. Cohen was invited to the show because of his role in Hugo, but his red carpet trip was infamously cut short.

That's because he showed up in character as Admiral General Aladeed, his character from The Dictator, and dumped Kim Jong-Il's ashes on Ryan Seacrest.

Before getting escorted away by security, Aladeed did look quite dashing posing for the cameras with a couple of hot "officials" from the Republic of Wadiya.

Dashing enough to overtake Pitt? You decide in the poll below!

Sacha Baron Cohen just kicked the 2012 Academy Awards in the ash.

Arriving on the red carpet dressed as Admiral Aladeed - his character from The Dictator - the actor chatted up E!'s Ryan Seacrest for a bit before bringing attention to the urn in his hands, which Cohen said contained the ashes of late North Korean dictator Kim Jong-Il.

“It was his dream to come to the Oscars and to be sprinkled on the red carpet and over Halle Berry’s chest again,” the star said, before "accidentally" spilling the ashes all over the E! News host.

See for yourself and decide: A hilarious gag? Or a lame cry for attention?

Sacha Baron Cohen Dumps Ashes on Ryan Seacrest

In a hilarious minute-long rant, Sacha Baron Cohen went on The Today Show this morning and slammed the Academy Awards for shutting him out... in character.

Cohen, or should we say Admiral General Aladeen, appeared live on NBC's morning show to express outrage over being banned from the Oscars Sunday night.

The despot's message, in summation: Death to America, death to the west, and good luck Billy Crystal. Here's The Dictator himself, General Aladeen, lashing out:

Admiral General Aladeen Today Show Appearance

While begrudgingly giving props to the Academy for denying his right to free speech - just like The Dictator himself would do - he's still outraged, dammit!

In addition to threatening the "Academy Of Motion Pictures Arts and Zionists," SBC takes a shot at actress Hilary Swank, who won't refund his money. Bummer.

Swank presumably became a punchline after she attended a dinner for an alleged war criminal. As for why Cohen is railing against the Academy in the first place?

When the group got wind of the fact that he planned to attend the show in character, they blackballed him. Never smart to mess with a dictator, Oscars.

Sacha Baron Cohen not been banned from The Academy Awards. Not yet at least.

But the actor is in hot water with the organization because he wants to walk the red carpet dressed as the main character from The Dictator, a Middle Eastern leader named General Aladeen. The Academy is less than enthused over this plan.

“We would hope that every studio knows that this is a bad idea,” a spokesperson told Deadline. “The red carpet is not about stunting.”

The Dictator Trailer

Still, Cohen - who stars in Hugo, a Best Picture nominee - is still invited to the ceremony... for now. An insider does conform however, that his tickets will be rescinded if he goes through with the stunt.

What do you think? Should the Oscars remain pure, traditional and promotion-free? Or is still stale, ratings-declining ceremony in need of someone like Cohen to spice the show up?

Sacha Baron Cohen is back in The Dictator, once again embodying a character and concept so ridiculous few others would even attempt, let alone pull off.

To the chagrin of President Obama and Secretary of State Clinton, one of the world's most notorious despots sets foot on American soil for the first time.

Like Bruno and Borat before it, The Dictator plays the offensive, foreign, absurd fish out of water card to perfection, at least going by its first trailer.

One of many highlights: Megan Fox, in a delicious cameo as herself, engages in relations with The Dictator, then disses the Kardashians afterward. Enjoy:

The Dictator Trailer

We got nothing.

The newly released photo of Sacha Baron Cohen of Bruno and Borat fame in his upcoming film, The Dictator, pretty much speaks for itself.

The British comedian's new vehicle will "tell the heroic story of a dictator who risked his life to ensure that democracy would never come to the country he so lovingly oppressed," according to Paramount Pictures.

And here he is:

DESPOT EXTRAORDINAIRE: Fidel meets Kim Jong Il meets Saddam.

Furthermore, "A heartless dictator finds he's been mutinied against by his number two man and replaced in power by an unsuspecting sheepherder lookalike."

Cohen will be playing dual roles. As he wanders the streets, "he finds himself in an organic food store and meets the owner (Anna Faris). Her character will show the dictator a new way of life and perhaps a little romance!"

Sounds tremendous, we can't lie.

Forming what will be one of the funnier marriages ever, Sacha Baron Cohen and Isla Fisher finally wed, according to the Australian magazine Women's Day.

The notoriously private couple invited just a few close relatives to witness them become husband and wife in a traditional Jewish ceremony last Monday.

“We did it – we’re married!” bubbled an ecstatic Isla in an email to friends around the world the following day. “It was the absolute best day of my life."

The Australian actress and the British comedian have been engaged in 2004, but despite having a daughter, Olive, in 2007, put off marriage a long time.

This led to speculation they were reluctant to make their relationship official, but friends say they were simply waiting for the right time to get hitched.

BRIDE OF BORAT: Isla Fisher is now Mrs. Sacha Baron Cohen!

“They were never bothered by the constant public pressure to marry and all along were just considering the venue – Australia or the US,” a friend says.

As for the nuptials' venue, “Paris was the late starter but was the best option at short notice for their families, and it won them over with romance.”

In spite of Sacha’s outrageous alter egos Ali G, Bruno and Borat, the Cohen is said to be very shy in real life, thus the pair opted for a private celebration.

Friends claim the newlyweds’ differences are what makes them a successful couple. To use one of the simplest, yet most profound Borat quotes: NICE!

As a series of Bruno quotes prove, Sacha Baron Cohen isn't afraid to say anything when under the guise of this character.

Similarly, as numerous television appearances and movie premieres over the last few weeks have depicted, Cohen also lacks any and all inhibitions when promoting the film.

Gayer than Adam Lambert and even more fashionably absurd than Lady GaGa, Bruno is a sight to behold wherever he goes.

Compare a few of his more ridiculous outfits (click on each image to enlarge it) below and let us know your favorite:

Which is your favorite outfit on Bruno?

One is a sexy singer that has dedicated herself to motherhood over the last few years.

The other is a gay fashion journalist that tests the boundaries of human decency on the big screen.

But while Christina Aguilera and Bruno may seem like polar opposites, they share the same taste in clothing.

Study the photos below, attempt to make it to a toilet if you need to vomit and then vote in our poll:

Which star looks better in leopard print?