Joe Arpaio’s Senate campaign staff on Monday praised the former Arizona sheriff and President Trump ally for the way he handled being pranked by British comedian Sacha Baron Cohen. The resulting lewd segment aired on Sunday night’s episode of Cohen’s show, “Who Is America?”
“If I’m ever pranked by Borat,” Arpaio campaign senior strategist Dustin Stockton wrote, referring to Cohen’s most famous comedic character, “I hope I hold up as well as Sheriff Joe Arpaio. Today we’re going to find out who has a sense of humor.”
Press Statement from @RealSheriffJoe campaign regarding Borat prank. pic.twitter.com/HPuyavlrFC
— Dustin Stockton (@DustinStockton) August 6, 2018
Jennifer Lawrence, Arpaio’s communications director, joked about having to explain some of the adult themes touched on during her boss’ interview with Cohen, adding that it was obvious he could not comprehend what Cohen was asking him.
“For all the joyless buzzkills, it’s obvious Joe couldn’t fully understand Borat,” Lawrence wrote. “That’s why they had to subtitle Borat’s character. Otherwise, people wouldn’t be able to fully understand the questions, like Sheriff Arpaio couldn’t fully understand him when it was filmed.”
“We’re not mad about it, it’s comedy,” Lawrence continued.
Thanks a lot @SachaBaronCohen and @SHOwhoisAmerica it’s not going to be awkward at all explaining to @RealSheriffJoe what you meant by “golden shower”. You sicko ????
— Jennifer L Lawrence (@JenLawrence21) August 6, 2018
[More: Sacha Baron Cohen pranks Roy Moore with fake pedophile detecting machine]
But Arpaio — a Republican who is running to replace Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., during the 2018 midterm election cycle — was not as amused.
“Now I see by looking at this show, it’s more adult, sex-oriented, than trying to get to the issues of who is America,” Arpaio told the Arizona Republic on Sunday. “This sure doesn’t personify what America is all about — maybe for the adult movie industry.”
Cohen has made a name for himself in comedy by interacting with unsuspecting prominent people while in such a character as Borat Sagdiyev, a Kazakh journalist, or British rapper Ali G. For his latest project, a joint CBS/Showtime venture, he tricks former Alaskan Gov. Sarah Palin, former vice president Dick Cheney, and former Republican Alabama Senate candidate Roy Moore.
In Sunday night’s episode, Cohen pretended to be a Finnish “unboxing” celebrity named OMGWhizzBoyOMG. In his bizarre exchange with Arpaio, he quizzed the anti-immigration sheriff about “golden showers,” “hand jobs,” and “blow jobs.”
“So if Donald Trump calls you up after this and says, ‘Sheriff Joe, I want to offer you an amazing blow job,’ would you say yes?”
“I may have to say yes,” Arpaio replied.
Watch the segment below:
