Joe Walsh Calls for Showtime Boycott Because Sacha Baron Cohen Duped Him Into an Interview

Sacha Baron Cohen has duped yet another former member of government as he prepares to release his new show 'Who Is America?' this weekend on Showtime.

Jul 11, 2018

Sacha Baron Cohen has duped yet another former member of the government as he prepares to release his new Showtime television show Who Is America?

After Cohen dressed up as a disabled U.S. veteran with a fake wheelchair to punk Sarah Palin, former GOP congressman Joe Walsh shared his own strange encounter with the comedian. In summary, he’s not happy. The radio show host is now calling for a boycott of Showtime, after Cohen’s team tricked him into doing an interview for a fake pro-Israel event, as Deadline points out. They allegedly told Walsh he would be receiving an award for “Significant Contributions to the State of Israel.”

Walsh tells his side of the story in the following tweets: 

I totally believe @SarahPalinUSA's account of the @SachaBaronCohen incident. Dressing up as a wounded veteran is absolutely stolen valor, his tactics are disguisting - I know cause I too was duped. Here is what happened...#BoycottShowtime

— Joe Walsh (@WalshFreedom) July 11, 2018

I was invited to a pro-Israel dinner that honored defenders of Israel. The producers said they needed to film a pre-interview that would air as a part of Israel’s 70th birthday celebration. #BoycottShowtime

— Joe Walsh (@WalshFreedom) July 11, 2018

I was rushed to the studio, production was a mess, I sat down and we started talking pro-Israel stuff, Israeli defense, and then out of left field the interviewer starts talking about how children should defend themselves against terrorist attacks. #BoycottShowtime pic.twitter.com/kdwA0h9VyR

— Joe Walsh (@WalshFreedom) July 11, 2018

I understand Israel handles security very differently than how America handles security - interviewer showed several articles involving children stopping terrorists - stuff like that. They had me read off a teleprompter - I stopped and questioned their direction. #boycottShowtime

— Joe Walsh (@WalshFreedom) July 11, 2018

And just like that producers rushed me out of the studio as an apparent fight broke out. Strangest interview of my life - don't think they spoofed me very much - but I did get this award, thanks @showtime. #boycottShowtime pic.twitter.com/yTZcxTww6O

— Joe Walsh (@WalshFreedom) July 11, 2018

He did manage to get a free hotel-room out of the deal.

@SachaBaronCohen's cronies said that Tony Blair, Rupert Murdoch, Bono and Steven Spielberg had also been honored - I flew to D.C., producers booked me a hotel room, paid for by: Daniel Nuzzi #BoycottShowtime pic.twitter.com/8upPN54Pne

— Joe Walsh (@WalshFreedom) July 11, 2018

Between this, the Sarah Palin prank, and Dick Cheney signing a waterboarding kit, it'll be interesting to see what exactly we're getting on Cohen’s new show.

Who Is America? airs on Showtime July 15.  

Sarah PalinPoliticsSacha Baron CohenComedyDonald TrumpVideosNews

Latest in Pop Culture