Watch Borat tear into Kanye West, Donald Trump and U2 at the Kennedy Center Honors
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Watch Borat tear into Kanye West, Donald Trump and U2 at the Kennedy Center Honors

At the Kennedy Center Honors earlier this month, Sacha Baron Cohen’s legendary character Borat was on hand to tear into recipients U2, Kanye West and former President Donald Trump.

Notably, U2 were awarded for their contributions to performing arts by the Center, alongside George Clooney, Gladys Knight, Amy Grant, and Tania León. However, Borat was on hand to steal the show.

When he first appeared on the stage, he said: “I am told the president of US and A is here – where are you, Mr Trump?” As the camera switched to President Joe and First Lady Jill Biden, he continued: “Ah, you don’t look so good! Where has your glorious big belly gone? And your pretty orange skin has become pale.”

Borat then turned his attention to rising antisemitism in America and Kanye West’s notorious antisemitic remarks. Regarding the US, he declared that it was “not fair” because “Kazakhstan is number one Jew-crushing nation”.

“Stop stealing our hobby,” he then said. “Your Kanye, he tried to move to Kazakhstan and even change his name to Kazakhstan-Ye West. But we said no. He too antisemitic even for us.”

Getting a little more serious, the fictional Kazakhstani journalist explained why he was there: “To make congratulation to Irish rocking roll band by the name of Me Too”. With Bono and The Edge chuckling in the audience, Borat said: “I have a message for you from my Premiere, it is hot off the fax.”

He then read a message in the Kazakh language, before saying: “It translate to mean, ‘Please remove your wretched album from my new iPhone 6’.”

He continued: “Your band fight oppression around the world – stop it! Do not come to Kazakhstan with your goody two shoes meddling or you will be placed on our new stretching machines and your bodies will move in mysterious ways.”

Concluding his segment, he then delivered a short rephrasing of U2’s hit single ‘With or Without You’, before using a keytar for a comedic instrumental.