Former U.S. Senate candidate Roy Moore has accused Sacha Baron Cohen of duping him into appearing on the Showtime series “Who is America?” His statement, obtained by TheWrap, comes two days after former Alaska governor Sarah Palin made a similar accusation against the comedian.
Moore said the incident took place when he was invited to Washington D.C. in February to receive an award for his support of Israel. “I did not know Sacha Cohen or that a Showtime TV series was being planned to embarrass, humiliate, and mock not only Israel, but also religious conservatives such as Sarah Palin, Joe Walsh, and Dick Cheney.” he said. “As an American, I would never hide my identity and deceive others only to mock and ridicule them as this Showtime Series is designed to do.”
Moore, who lost the Alabama senate race to Doug Jones in September after facing accusations of sexual misconduct against minors, also threatened legal action against Cohen, saying, “If Showtime airs a defamatory attack on my character, I may very well be involved in another.”
On Tuesday, Palin said she was exploited by Cohen, and that the satirist “duped” her into an interview by posing as a wounded military veteran. In a Facebook post addressing the incident, Palin wrote, “Yup – we were duped. Ya’ got me, Sacha. Feel better now? I join a long list of American public personalities who have fallen victim to the evil, exploitive, sick ‘humor’ of the British ‘comedian.”
Moore and Palin aren’t the only ones who were duped into appearing on Cohen’s show. According to Drudge Report chief Matt Drudge, Bernie Sanders, Ted Koppel, Howard Dean and Dick Cheney are all set to appear on the upcoming season. Joe Walsh also issued a statement saying that he was tricked into an appearance.
In character as Dr. Billy Wayne Ruddick Jr., Baron Cohen clapped back at former Alaska governor Sarah Palin on Thursday in a tweet, denying that he said he “was a War Vet” and demanding an apology from her. The tweet was indeed composed by Cohen, a person with direct knowledge of the situation told TheWrap.
Here is Moore’s full statement:
In February 2018, I was invited to Washington D. C. to receive an award for my strong support of Israel in commemoration of her 70th anniversary as a nation. Because Alabama has always been at the forefront of support of Israel and because I share a strong belief in God as the Creator and Sustainer of all life, as does Israel, I eventually accepted the invitation. Expenses were paid, and I received no private remuneration for my time or participation. I did not know Sacha Cohen or that a Showtime TV series was being planned to embarrass, humiliate, and mock not only Israel, but also religious conservatives such as Sarah Palin, Joe Walsh, and Dick Cheney.
I do not apologize for my belief in God or the common religious and cultural heritage that Israel shares with America.
As an Alabamian, I believe in truth and honesty, which the shadowy media groups behind this illicit scheme do not. Obviously, people like Cohen who mock not only Israel but those who support Israel and the principles upon which America is based, do not share my beliefs.
I don’t need Sacha Cohen to tell me who America is, but I can tell him that America is a proud Nation which sprang from humble beginnings and a strong belief in God, virtue, and morality.
As an American, I would never hide my identity and deceive others only to mock and ridicule them as this Showtime Series is designed to do. America is not only about being proud but about being brave and standing for what we believe.
I am involved in several court cases presently to defend my honor and character against vicious false political attacks by liberals like Cohen. If Showtime airs a defamatory attack on my character, I may very well be involved in another. As for Mr. Cohen, whose art is trickery, deception, and dishonesty, Alabama does not respect cowards who exhibit such traits! It’s been a long time since I fought for my country in Vietnam. I’m ready to defend her again!