x

Cinema

“Borat” Star Gives Church $100K After Member Appears in Film

October 31, 2020

OKLAHOMA CITY — Actor Sacha Baron Cohen, who stars in "Borat Subsequent Moviefilm," donated $100,000 to the church of a woman who believed she was taking part in a documentary but instead was being featured in the mockumentary comedy film.

Jeanise Jones, 62, thought she had been recruited by her place of worship, Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church, in Oklahoma City to mentor a teenager named "Tutar" who came to the U.S. with her father from a developing nation. But Jones didn't find out until the film was released on Amazon Prime last week that "Tutar" was an actress and the man — whom she believed was the girl's father — was actually Cohen.

Rev. Derrick Scobey, the church's senior pastor, said Cohen made the donation on Wednesday. Scobey added that he and other church members also were not aware of the movie.

Scobey said he wasn't surprised by the donation, just the amount, noting that the money had been earmarked for community use, The Oklahoman  reported. Scobey added that Cohen knew the church is a community hub where people gather for spiritual hope and help.

A representative for Cohen declined comment when contacted by The Associated Press.

The movie follows Borat Sagdiyev, portrayed by Cohen, as he returns to America from Kazakhstan, with his daughter portrayed by Maria Bakalova, to offer a "bribe" to American leaders. It is a sequel to "Borat," which was released in 2006.

After the latest film's debut, many on Twitter described Jones' character as the movie's hero, moral compass and breakout star. But she's simply relieved that "Tutar" was never in trouble.

Jones has not seen the movie but she said one of the film's producers called to check on her after it was released. Cohen reached out to her on Wednesday, said Jones, who noted the call was "enlightening."

Scobey started a GoFundMe account for Jones, saying that she believed the scenario was real and that she lost her job as a counseling service receptionist job because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Jones said Thursday that she was surprised to hear $128,000 had already been donated.

"It is amazing. I would never expect nothing like this," she added. "It's blowing my mind."

The film also features a scene with Rudy Giuliani, one of President Donald Trump's lawyers, in a compromising position in a hotel room with a young woman acting as a journalist. Trump previously  told reporters aboard Air Force One that he didn't know what happened with Giuliani.

RELATED

Super Mario, an Elvis Christmas special and Paris Hilton enjoying motherhood are some of the new television, movies, music and games headed to a device near you.

Top Stories

Columnists

A pregnant woman was driving in the HOV lane near Dallas.

General News

FALMOUTH, MA – The police in Falmouth have identified the victim in an accident involving a car plunging into the ocean on February 20, NBC10 Boston reported.

Video

Rep. George Santos is Facing a Vote on His Expulsion from Congress as Lawmakers Weigh Accusations

WASHINGTON (AP) — Rep. George Santos of New York is facing a critical vote to expel him from the House on Friday as lawmakers weigh whether his actions, fabrications and alleged lawbreaking warrant the chamber's most severe punishment.

MANCHESTER, England (AP) — After a record-breaking start as Tottenham manager, Ange Postecoglou is experiencing the other side to life in a job that has proved too much for some of the biggest names in soccer.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The House voted on Friday to expel Republican Rep.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Retired Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, an unwavering voice of moderate conservatism and the first woman to serve on the nation’s highest court, died Friday.

He wasn’t the first one to think about it but a humor columnist for POLITICO suggested - ironically, of course - that if Greeks want back the stolen Parthenon Marbles in the British Museum that they should just steal them back, old boy.

Enter your email address to subscribe

Provide your email address to subscribe. For e.g. [email protected]

You may unsubscribe at any time using the link in our newsletter.