Borat, the blunt and blundering Kazhakstani reporter who's the other alter-ego of Ali G creator Sacha Baron Cohen, has had some problems of late. According to Empire Online, the ratings of "Da Ali G Show" on the USA Network were good enough to inspire a spin-off movie involving Borat.

The would be documentary-style flick, directed by "Old School" man Todd Phillips, was just starting up when everything went to hell. While shooting the opening sequence of the movie at a rodeo in Virginia, locals were so incensed by Cohen/Borat's caterwauling rendition of the American national anthem and comments about the war in Iraq (the words "I hope you kill every man, woman and child in Iraq, down to the lizards. May George W. Bush drink the blood of every man, woman and child in Iraq"), that they caused a near-riot.

On top of that, Phillips has left the project citing 'creative differences' although its believed to be due to his unhappiness about Cohen's actions in the improvised opening sequence. Cohen and his cohorts are keen to finish the movie, and will hire another director as soon as possible. Phillips will head onto his long-awaited next project, "The Six Million Dollar Man".

Thanks to 'Booyakasha'