Sacha Baron Cohen denies impersonating disabled veteran to dupe Sarah Palin

Associated Press
Updated
Sacha Baron Cohen in disguise as Billy Wayne Ruddick Jr, talking to Senator Bernie Sanders
Sacha Baron Cohen in disguise as Billy Wayne Ruddick Jr, talking to Senator Bernie Sanders

Showtime and Sacha Baron Cohen are pushing back against allegations the comedian duped guests on his new show by posing as a disabled veteran.

The network says in a statement released on Monday that Baron Cohen "did not present himself as a disabled veteran" or wear any military apparel when he met with Sen. Bernie Sanders and former Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin.

Last week, Palin complained on Facebook that Baron Cohen "heavily disguised himself" as a disabled US veteran in a wheelchair when she was "duped" into an interview. She challenged Baron Cohen and Showtime to donate proceeds from the show to a veterans' charity.

In the new show Who Is America?, Baron Cohen dons various prosthetics and accents in an attempt to embarrass those on the right and left.