It looks like actor Sacha Baron Cohen is cooking up something controversial for an upcoming film. Best known in the United States as the titular character in the hit film, “Borat,” Cohen is known worldwide as going to great lengths, normally as an absurd, offensive character, just for a laugh. And judging by a recent rumor, Cohen seems to be at it again, this time with none other than O.J. Simpson.
Seriously.
According to a source who spoke to The Daily Mail, Cohen was seen in a curly wig and thick black glasses when he spoke to the disgraced NFL star in a Las Vegas hotel room, recently. Normally, Cohen uses his ridiculous characters to con unsuspecting people into making fools of themselves. However, for this meeting, it looks like Simpson might have been in on the joke.
The Daily Mail says that Cohen had to pay $20,000 just for the chance to sit with Simpson. As you might imagine, the idea of O.J. Simpson capitalizing in any way from his recent stint in jail or his infamous murder trial has rubbed people the wrong way. For those who aren’t aware of the O.J. Simpson murder trial, and failed to watch the great FX series, Simpson was accused of viciously murdering his estranged wife Nicole Brown and a male friend, Ron Goldman. He was later acquitted, but then sent to jail a number of years later for an unrelated crime.
One such person upset at Simpson making $20,000 is Tanya Brown, sister of the deceased Nicole. She said, “Nicole and Ron are two human beings who were brutally murdered. This is not a joke, nor is it entertainment.”
As of now, this is all hearsay. There’s been no confirmation from Cohen that this meeting even took place. When the Mail spoke to Simpson and asked if he knew Cohen, he said, “I know him well. I met him. Nice guy.” So yeah, either they’re friends or this weird $20,000 meeting actually took place.
Cohen has had a few projects fall through in recent years, with his last film being 2016’s “Alice Through The Looking Glass.” Outside of some minor roles in large productions, Cohen hasn’t had a hit as a leading man that has yet to come close to “Borat.” Maybe this unlikely pairing with an accused murderer is just the thing Cohen needs? [via Page Six]