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LONDON - Comedian Sacha Baron Cohen was bashed by a passer-by in New York last month after he tried to play a prank as his alter ego, Borat.
According to London's Sun newspaper Cohen, adopting the character of Borat, the Kazakhstani TV reporter, approached the man and said: "I like your clothings. Are nice! Please may I buying? I want have sex with it."
But the bystander didn't see the joke and punched Cohen in the face.
The comedian was struck again and again before being rescued by actor friend Hugh Laurie of TV show House, who was accompanying Cohen to a New York bar.
The newspaper quotes a friend of Cohen as saying: "Sacha couldn't resist playing the fool as Borat, but picked on the wrong person".
The reported incident took place after Laurie and Cohen appeared on the US TV show Saturday Night Live late last month.
Cohen is currently in Australia promoting his successful spoof movie Borat: Cultural Learnings of America For Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan.
Studio chiefs have warned Cohen to avoid pretending to be Borat on the street. Since his film was launched he has only appeared in character while promoting the movie.
- AAP
