Borat Subsequent Moviefilm actor and producer Sacha Baron Cohen has donated $100,000 to Ebenezer Baptist Church of Oklahoma City, the local church of the mocumentary’s babysitter Jeanise Jones, in light of comments that she was not adequately compensated for her pivotal role in the film. Borat Subsequent Moviefilm was released digitally on Amazon Prime Video on October 23rd. Taking place during the COVID-19 pandemic and on the cusp of the 2020 presidential election, Borat Subsequent Moviefilm comes 14 years after its original Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan.
In the film, Jones plays a babysitter who takes care of Borat’s daughter Tutar, who exhibits a brutish understanding of women in society. Jones won hearts around the world as she treated Tutar with warmth and compassion. Upon the release of Borat Subsequent Moviefilm, however, she was shocked to find out the true nature of the “documentary,” telling the New York Post that she felt “betrayed” by the filmmaking team, who had told her she was participating in a documentary about a young girl being sold to a wealthy man. Jones said she had initially only received $3,600 in total for her participation in the film,
Cohen has responded to the criticism in a timely (and monetary) fashion, donating $100,000 to Jones’ Ebenezer Baptist Church. Jones’ pastor, Pastor Derrick Scobey, tells People, “I was blown away but not surprised because I was told about what type of heart this man has.” Scobey also explained that none of Cohen's donation is being pocketed by the church but is being used to help the community. The church is currently housing several people due to ice storms and power outages.
Cohen was clearly touched by Jones' actions in the film, and so were people who watched Borat Subsequent Moviefilm. Prior to Cohen's donation, a GoFundMe campaign was set up for Jones' by Pastor Scobey. Scobey was asking for donations for Jones, who like many in the United States, lost her job because of the Coronavirus pandemic. Fans have raised over $155,000 at the time of writing.
Borat Subsequent Moviefilm was no doubt a difficult movie to make, as was its original film in 2006, and Cohen’s Kazakh persona is not new to public controversy. Both Borat films have faced lawsuits from participants who were not aware of the true nature of the film. The undercover improvisation that Cohen employs at the scale of Borat Sagdiyev, especially in the current climate, is risky when it involves unassuming participants. What is clear, though, is Cohen’s dedication to his craft -- and those who have played a part in it.
Source: People
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