The glorious nation of Kazakhstan has never been particularly thrilled about the whole “Borat” thing, because it makes them look like some kind of Third World hellscape. But now they’re actually leaning INTO it, and they’re even using Borat’s catchphrase, “Very Nice,” in tourism ads.
One official says, quote, “In COVID times, when tourism spending is on hold, it was good to see the country mentioned in the media. Not in the nicest way, but it’s good to be out there.”
SACHA BARON COHEN is even helping them out by admitting that his version of Kazakhstan has nothing to do with reality. Quote, “I chose Kazakhstan because it was a place that almost nobody in the U.S. knew anything about, which allowed us to create a wild, comedic, fake world. “The real Kazakhstan is a beautiful country with a modern, proud society . . . the opposite of Borat’s version.”
