Borat 2: Sacha Baron Cohen donates $100k to Jeanise Jones fundraiser

Professional babysitter had said she felt ‘betrayed’ by film

Sacha Baron Cohen has donated $100,000 (£77,482) to a fundraiser for a babysitter who says she feels “betrayed” by her portrayal in Borat 2.

Jeanise Jones, 62, features in a number of scenes in Baron Cohen’s comedy sequel, as she is recruited to babysit Tutar (Maria Bakalova), the 15-year-old daughter of Borat (Baron Cohen).

But despite Jones and Tutar striking up a bond in the film, the professional babysitter this week claimed that she did not know who Baron Cohen was when she was asked to participate in the film and had believed it was a documentary about women’s rights.

With Jones being paid $3,600 (£2,600) to participate in the film, a GoFundMe was set up by her pastor Derrick Scobey – who originally put Jones in touch with the Borat 2 production team – on Tuesday (26 October).

Baron Cohen has now donated a large sum to the fundraiser. At Jones’s request, the $100,000 from Baron Cohen will not go to Jones but will be spread out to her Oklahoma City community on her behalf by the local Ebenezer Baptist Church. The funds will be allocated to shelter, food and any other needs the community has.

“I was blown away but not surprised because I was told about what type of heart this man has,” Scobey told People of Baron Cohen’s donation. 

“Maybe it’s a little risqué, some of the things in the movie, but he has a good heart.”

The GoFundMe for Jones has, at the time of writing, reached $140,206 in donations.