Sacha Baron Cohen welcome but not as `Dictator`, says Academy

Sacha Baron Cohen will not be allowed to use the red carpet to plug his movie, says the Academy.

Los Angeles: Sacha Baron Cohen`s plan to attend Oscars dressed as his `Dictator` character has not gone down well with the Academy, which says that the actor will not be allowed to use the red carpet to plug his movie.

There were reports that the Academy had banned him from attending the high profile event but a spokesperson says that they are waiting for a response from the actor, a leading daily has said. "We haven`t banned him. We`re just waiting to hear what he`s going to do," said an Academy spokesperson. The Academy has made it clear that Cohen is not welcome to use the red carpet for his promotional stunt. The actor was hatching a plan to arrive at the event dressed as his `Dictator` character, a totalitarian leader hellbent on keeping democracy out of his country. The ‘Borat’ actor is known to use award shows to launch promotion of his movies. PTI