Sacha Baron Cohen’s latest film, The Dictator, is set for release in May, and like many celebrities with a film to shill, Sacha accepted an invitation to this year’s Oscars. It helps that he’s an Oscar-nominated writer (for Borat) and that he has a supporting part in one of this year’s Best Picture nominees, Hugo. When Sacha appeared at the Oscars when a few years ago, when he was nominated as a screenwriter, he appeared as himself – he wore a tux, and he had his actress girlfriend, Isla Fisher, on his arm. But for this year’s appearance, Cohen was going to do something different – he was going to go to the Oscars dressed up as “The Dictator,” the character of General Aladeen that he created.

Sacha Baron Cohen, the master of buffoon antics, seems to be a good job of stirring up publicity for his upcoming film “The Dictator,” using the Oscars as a peg. Not that “The Dictator” is a likely nominee for the 2013 awards. But Cohen, who did appear in this year’s best picture nominee “Hugo,” had been expected to attend the show Sunday as part of that film’s contingent.

Word started going around Tuesday, though, that Cohen would walk the red carpet disguised as General Aladeen, his character from “The Dictator.”

While red-carpet reporters are always keen to ask stars about their upcoming projects, the academy frowns on the idea of promoting future movies during the Oscars; for instance, presenters of awards are never introduced as “star of the upcoming film…. ”

Academy of Motion Pictures President Tom Sherak told The Times that he called Paramount Pictures, the studio distributing “The Dictator” (as well as “Hugo”), and told them “it’s a bad thing to do” because it would make a mockery of the red carpet.

Paramount representatives declined to comment on the matter. But sources suggested that the studio may be claiming it is unable to control the star of its big summer release, in which Cohen plays a political strongman working to ensure that democracy never comes to his oppressed nation.

Reports circulated Wednesday afternoon that the academy had pulled Cohen’s tickets for the Oscars, but an academy spokeswoman said no decision on the matter had been made and they were trying to learn more about Cohen’s intentions.

[From The LA Times]

Are you kidding me? While I tend to think Sacha’s antics/character-driven-comedy-bits are often played out, the Academy needs to get a grip. Let’s face it – pretty much every presenter at the Oscars will be there because they’re promoting a future project. Just because Sacha’s shill is honest and upfront, the Academy is going to get their panties in a bunch? What are they afraid of? That the red carpet might be interesting? That something funny and unexpected might happen? Remember – the Academy had to eat it when Trey Parker and Matt Stone wore dresses the year that the South Park movie was nominated for Best Song. The Academy doesn’t want anything like that happening this year! Heaven forbid. *clutches pearls*

Anyway, Page Six spoke to one the reps for the Oscar show last night, and the source said that Sacha hasn’t been banned, but the Academy is trying to pressure him into not pulling the stunt – “We don’t feel it’s appropriate to use our Oscar red carpet as a venue for a movie promotional stunt.” BITCHES PLEASE.

Photos courtesy of WENN.