Gun Store Owner: I Caught Sacha Baron Cohen Trying to Dupe Me

A California gun store owner claims he kicked Sacha Baron Cohen out of his shop in February 2017 during what he suspects was an attempt to film for what became the comedian’s new Showtime series. Norris Sweidan told Fox11 that Cohen entered his store posed as Hungarian immigrant seeking to buy a gun, but that “this guy [did] not look like a Hungarian immigrant, tight ass leather pants, a beard, it just didn’t fit... The moment his words came out of his mouth I was like this guy is full of shit.” Sweidan then recognized Cohen as Borat, the character that catapulted him to comedic fame in 2006. “Once I knew it was Borat, we already know his game and his bullshit,” he added, “so we knew he’s here to make a mockery, and of what? Gun owners?” After recognizing Cohen, he kicked the crew out of the store. Showtime did not respond to Fox 11’s request for comment. Sweidan added that he doesn’t have much sympathy for the bevy of conservative politicians that got duped into appearing in a damning video about arming toddlers—especially Virginia Citizens Defense League President Philip Van Cleave. “You’ve got some gun advocate holding a bunny on some gun,” he told Fox 11. “If you’re a gun advocate, what the fuck are you doing holding a gun with a bunny on it, really?”