Joshua Loudermilk Says He Spotted Sacha Baron Cohen Early, Took $1,700 to Stay in Character
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Oct 25
Joshua Loudermilk Says He Spotted Sacha Baron Cohen Early, Took $1,700 to Stay in Character
2 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Oct 25
Summary
Joshua Loudermilk, 54, told the Guardian he recognized Sacha Baron Cohen during the filming of Ali G: Who Iz I? but kept pretending to be a hard-right border vigilante.
Loudermilk said he answered a Craigslist casting ad for “patriotic” Americans after being made redundant, fabricated rightwing views to get selected, and was paid $300 initially, then $1,000 plus another $700 and expenses.
On set in Ontario, California, he said the disguise, a Borat reference in screening, and Morad’s butt-shaped gun confirmed Cohen’s identity, prompting him to “take it another step further” rather than break character.
The film repeatedly says Loudermilk and fellow recruit Michael Aboud were “not in on it,” though Loudermilk says he posted publicly about “Sasha Cohen” after the 2025 shoot and is now treating the exposure as a career boost.
Aboud has called Cohen a “liar” and “pervert” and plans to sue, while the production last week again told the Guardian that Loudermilk was not in on the joke.