US broadcaster Showtime has refuted Sarah Palin’s claims comedian Sacha Baron Cohen duped her by impersonated a disabled veteran and mocked servicemen and women as part of his new show.
Palin, a former US vice presidential candidate and Alaskan governor, took to Facebook claiming she had “fallen victim to the evil, exploitative, sick humour" of the Borat star.
In the post, she also says the comedian had claimed to be a “disabled US veteran” to carry out an interview with her as part of his new satirical series Who is America?.
"How dare you mock those who have fought and served our country. Truly sick," Palin posted.
Sacha Baron Cohen. Source: AAP
"Ya' got me, Sacha. Feel better now?"
But Showtime has hit back, denying Ms Palin’s claims.
"Baron Cohen did not present himself as a disabled veteran, and viewers nationwide who watched the premiere on Sunday can now attest to that," the statement read.
"In both the interview with Governor Palin and the interview with Senator Sanders, he did not wear military apparel of any kind."
In the series’ debut episode, Baron Cohen interviews Democrat Senator Bernie Sanders in character as Billy Wayne Ruddick Jr., PhD while sitting on a mobility scooter. Senator Sanders initially assumes his interviewer is disabled, only to be told “ No… this here scooter is to confine my body's finite energy.".
Cohen first found fame in Britain in 2000 with "Da Ali G Show" that saw his wannabe rapper character interview unsuspecting public figures. The show later transferred across the Atlantic.
He followed a similar format with hit movie characters that include bumbling Kazakh reporter Borat and gay Austrian fashionista Bruno.
His latest venture "Who is America?" is a satirical half-hour seven-episode series that premiered on Sunday on Showtime.
The seven-episode series airs in Australia on Stan.
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