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It caused a furor when Sacha Baron Cohen first debuted it on the beach in Cannes in 2006, but 11 years later the mankini — the rather revealing male one-piece swimsuit made famous by the Brit’s fictional Kazakh TV presenter Borat — is still creating headlines.
Last week, it was reported that a group of six Czech tourists had been arrested in the Kazakhstani capital Astana wearing mankinis — which have become bachelor party favorites — and fined $67 each for their “indecent” appearances.
A photo published by the BBC showed the group in their brightly colored outfits, paired with curly afro wigs, and showcasing rather a lot of flesh, in the snow-covered city.
But now Baron Cohen himself has come forward to help, offering to pay the fines himself.
“To my Czech mates who were arrested. Send me your details and proof that it was you, and I’ll pay your fine,” he wrote on his Facebook page, offering a special hotline email address: arrestedforwearingyourmankini@gmail.com.
2006’s hit mockumentary Borat — full title Borat! Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan — was banned in Kazakhstan, where authorities accused the film of portraying the country as primitive and racist. However, the film was later credited with dramatically promoting tourism, reportedly boosting visa applications tenfold.
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