Appearing as a guest on Thursday's New Day on CNN to promote his latest film, The Brothers Grimsby, comedian and actor Sacha Baron Cohen recalled that audiences who have seen the movie have cheered at what he called the "fairytale ending" of Donald Trump contracting HIV.
A bit later, as he discussed whether he and his writers have lines they do not cross in their comedy, he concluded that, "at the end of the day, we're putting a movie out there, and we want it to be a good force in the world. Which is why Donald Trump gets AIDS in it."
At 8:53 a.m. ET, Cohen brought up the audiences who cheered:
They end up on the run, and they have to escape basically being murdered. And I think this might be a clip which is, there's a fairytale ending in that Donald Trump gets AIDS at the end. And the interesting thing has been, throughout the world when we've shown that scene-
Co-host Michaela Pereira jumped in to ask, "What has the reaction been?"
The comedian answered: "Well, people have been cheering."
As clips of audiences cheering were shown, Cohen continued: "This is overseas and Americans. This is when Donald Trump contracts HIV. People are cheering. There are standing ovations. This is around the world."
The CNN host responded: "This is insane. Are you wondering how that scene is going to play here in the United States, given the fact of what is going on right now?"
After recalling the audiences in Miami and New York had also cheered, the comedian then made some political commentary:
People are cheering. There are standing ovations. And, you know, I'm a comedian, but I think this shows something quite pointed about what's going on if there is that much latent hatred that when the potential future President of America contracts HIV, people are standing up and cheering, that means something wrong is going on, you know.
After Pereira asked him about his limits in what he is willing to make fun of, Cohen recounted that he and his writers discuss amongst themselves whether their ideas are acceptable before taking another jab at Trump as he concluded:
I'm not a politician. I don't have an ethical duty, but, you know, at the end of the day, we're putting a movie out there, and we want it to be a good force in the world. Which is why Donald Trump gets AIDS in it.
Without responding to his final swipe at Trump, Pereira concluded the segment joking about not wanting to get handcuffed by her guest:
But, you know what, I saw you yesterday with our friend Matt Lauer. I came prepared. I brought a handcuff key because you don't fool me. No, you don't. Listen, it was a delight to meet you. And really, really great that you are here. Our colleagues in Miami send their love.
Below is a transcript of the relevant portion of the Thursday, March 10, New Day on CNN:
SACHA BARON COHEN, COMEDIAN: They end up on the run, and they have to escape basically being murdered. And I think this might be a clip which is, there's a fairytale ending in that Donald Trump gets AIDS at the end. And the interesting thing has been, throughout the world when we've shown that scene-
MICHAELA PEREIRA: What has the reaction been?
COHEN: Well, people have been cheering.
PEREIRA: This is overseas.
COHEN: This is overseas and Americans. This is when Donald Trump contracts HIV.
PEREIRA: Oh, goodness.
COHEN: People are cheering. There are standing ovations. This is around the world.
PEREIRA: This is insane. Are you wondering how that scene is going to play here in the United States, given the fact of what is going on right now?
COHEN: Well, I've just been in Miami. I played in Miami two days ago, New York last night.
PEREIRA: What was the reaction?
COHEN: People are cheering. There are standing ovations. And, you know, I'm a comedian, but I think this shows something quite pointed about what's going on if there is that much latent hatred that when the potential future President of America contracts HIV, people are standing up and cheering, that means something wrong is going on, you know.
PEREIRA: You think? You think there may be something up in the country?
COHEN: Yes.
PEREIRA: Is there anything that you won't touch comedy-wise? I mean, every comedian has their own personal line, right?
(...)
COHEN: I'm not a politician. I don't have an ethical duty, but, you know, at the end of the day, we're putting a movie out there, and we want it to be a good force in the world. Which is why Donald Trump gets AIDS in it.
PEREIRA: But, you know what, I saw you yesterday with our friend Matt Lauer. I came prepared. I brought a handcuff key because you don't fool me. No, you don't. Listen, it was a delight to meet you.
COHEN: Thank you very much, loved it.
PEREIRA; And really, really great that you are here. Our colleagues in Miami send their love.
