Sacha Baron Cohen Joins Beck for Surprise Cello Performance

Actor and comedian Sacha Baron Cohen surprised television viewers on Tuesday, October 20, by joining musician Beck's string ensemble on cello during The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. The unannounced appearance accompanied a performance of In the Night, a track from Beck's latest album, while Cohen was promoting his upcoming film, Ali G: Who Iz I?, amid renewed criticism of the character's racial humor.

According to Latenighter, Cohen appeared among an eight-member string section without being introduced or mentioned during his interview with Fallon. His participation offered a rare public glimpse of his musical background, which predates the characters that established his reputation in comedy.

Beck performed In the Night from Ride Lonesome, released through Capitol Records in September 2026, according to Yahoo Entertainment. The album is his first collection of entirely new material since 2019's Hyperspace and draws on the atmospheric sound associated with his 2015 Grammy-winning album of the year, Morning Phase, and 2002's Sea Change.

During his interview, Beck described the mood behind the new record.

"It's a moody kinda stuff. It's the mood of like when you're in your house, it's almost dark but you haven't turned the lights on. It's kinda like blue hour," Beck said.

Beck also told Fallon that he had been approached to appear in the 2001 comedy Zoolander but declined the opportunity. David Bowie subsequently appeared in the film instead, according to Yahoo Entertainment.

Cohen's cello appearance reflects a longstanding interest in the instrument. Latenighter reported that he learned to play as a child and has said it led to his first television appearance on the British program Fanfare for Young Musicians. In a 2020 interview with The New York Times, he also discussed continuing to play and planning lessons with master cellists.

Outside the music performance, Cohen's return as Ali G has generated debate ahead of the film's theatrical release on Friday, October 23. The movie, titled Ali G: Who Iz I?, follows the 2002 film Ali G Indahouse and marks Cohen's feature directorial debut, according to Yahoo Entertainment.

The BBC reported that critics have accused the character of reinforcing racial stereotypes, with opposition gaining attention across social media. Singer and presenter Jordan Stephens criticized the film's return in multiple TikTok videos, while Labour MP Paulette Hamilton previously described the character as racist during an appearance on the Jeremy Vine show.

British comedian Dane Baptiste argued that Ali G's catchphrases have sometimes been used outside the comedy to dismiss genuine experiences of racism. He recalled hearing expressions such as "Is it because I is black?" and "Booyakasha" repeated during the character's peak popularity in the 2000s.

Baptiste said the repeated use of the phrases reduced serious concerns about discrimination to a caricature. He also described Ali G as a "black caricature" and argued that the character's revival comes as Black creatives face limited opportunities.

The controversy dates back to the original film's release in 2002, when protesters gathered at its Leicester Square premiere. The BBC reported that organizer Peter Akinti compared the character to Al Jolson, a performer known for appearing in blackface during the early 20th century.

Social psychologist Amy Kean also questioned the character's contemporary relevance, arguing that comedy built around exaggerated accents has become less acceptable. She cited Ali G alongside Little Britain and Catherine Tate as examples of comedy in which distinctive voices became the central joke.

Cohen has defended his work as satire intended to expose prejudice rather than endorse it. In an essay published by Time, he wrote, "The fact that Ali G is outdated and problematic is the very reason I resurrected him." He argued that the character's return reflects a world in which the prejudices his work targets have persisted and intensified, amplified by social media and artificial intelligence.

During an earlier interview with 60 Minutes, Cohen also defended his mockumentary characters Borat, Brüno and Ali G, saying their encounters can reveal biases that participants might not otherwise express publicly. The upcoming film is scheduled for a limited theatrical run beginning October 23, before its later streaming release on Prime Video, according to Yahoo Entertainment.