When Baron Cohen heard about the crowdfunding campaign for Jeanise Jones, he personally called “Borat 2” to help her.
Maria Bakalova as Tutar and Jeansie Jones in “Borat 2”
Amazon Prime Video
Christmas is the season for giving, and one person who paid a lot this year was Sacha Baron Cohen. After the premiere of the blockbuster comedian “Borat Subsequent Movie Film” in late October, the internet gathered around Jeanise Jones, an unknown participant in the film who is hired as a nanny for Maria Bakalova’s Tutar. Jones’ virtuous personality made her an emerging star and recipient of more than $ 100,000 through a crowdfunding campaign that went viral after word spread that Jones was not properly compensated for starring in “Borat 2.” Baron Cohen himself made an additional $ 100,000 donation to Jones, the details of which he detailed for the first time in a Guild interview this month with Eric Kohn of IndieWire himself.
“I think this was the most difficult year for most people to remember,” said Baron Cohen. “Jeanise is this incredible figure in the film. She helps Tutar find her own beauty and helps her to defend herself and to value her independence as a woman. I heard that they were crowdfunding her afterwards. I called her and wanted to help in some way. I said, ‘What’s important to you? Can I help in any way? ‘”
Baron Cohen continued: “At the time, there was a natural disaster in Oklahoma and they were struggling to house and feed many members of their community. It was the least I could really do. By the way, your pastor was saying that this woman, Jeanise, spent all her time helping others in the community. He virtually took us to see the church and they were housing and feeding many people who were experiencing difficulties. What else can you do?”
Baron Cohen’s $ 100,000 donation to Jeanise Jones went directly to help members of her community overcome a series of recent natural disasters, including ice storms that caused power outages. The original crowdfunding campaign was organized by Pastor Derrick Scobey of the Ebenezer Baptist Church, who responded to Baron Cohen’s donation earlier this year: “I was amazed, but not surprised, because I was told what kind of heart this man has. Maybe it’s a little bold, some of the things in the film, but he has a good heart. “
“Borat Subsequent Movie Film” is now being broadcast on Amazon Prime Video.
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