'It sure didn't look good': Joe Arpaio responds to Sacha Baron Cohen interview

Yvonne Wingett Sanchez | The Republic | azcentral.com

Show Caption Hide Caption Here's who is running for Senate in Arizona Here's what you need to know about Arizona's Senate candidates: Kyrsten Sinema, Deedra Abboud, Joe Arpaio, Martha McSally and Kelli Ward.

Joe Arpaio, the ex-sheriff turned-U.S. Senate candidate, said Sunday night he was not amused by his portrayal on comedian Sacha Baron Cohen's "poorly done" comedy series “Who Is America?”

The raunchy episode featuring Arpaio, 86, aired about a month after he publicly admitted to being tricked into an appearance on the show by "a fake journalist" who told Arpaio he was from Finland.

Yet Arpaio stayed for the entire interview, even after the topics he was asked about turned to "golden showers," "hand jobs" and a "blow job." Arpaio said he believed the interview was being live-streamed to an audience of millions.

It was not.

"Now I see by looking at this show, it's more adult, sex-oriented, than trying to get to the issues of who is America," Arpaio told The Arizona Republic. "This sure doesn't personify what America is all about — maybe for the adult movie industry.

"He showed one good thing: He showed how I support the president. ... But I'll tell you one thing: He's not going to win any Academy Awards," Arpaio said of Cohen, who is best known for creating characters and scenarios that embarrass those he interacts with.

Arpaio is in a three-way contest for the Republican nomination for Arizona's open U.S. Senate seat. U.S. Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., is retiring.

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His appearance on the show likely will have no impact on his Senate bid — and could even generate sympathy for him. Polling shows him trailing his rivals and while many Republicans will vote for him, there appears to be widespread concern about his age.

Arpaio appeared in a one-on-one interview with Cohen, who was dressed in a floral shirt, hipster glasses and red hair.

Cohen opened it speaking gibberish and introducing himself as OMGWHIZZBOYOMG," adopting the character of a YouTube-like video personality who unboxes kids toys.

Cohen began unboxing a popular children's toy (a Shopkins doughnut).

He introduced Arpaio, who wore his hair brushed to the side, a black suit jacket and his signature gun tie-pin.

"He is the toughest sheriff in America," Cohen said, followed by news clips about Arpaio’s past illegal immigration enforcement activities, his conviction of criminal contempt, and his relationship with President Donald Trump.

Arpaio was an early Trump supporter and campaigned around the country for him, warming up crowds and greeting Republican supporters.

Trump pardoned Arpaio last year, sparing him potential jail time for a contempt conviction, which stemmed from a long-running racial-profiling case.

Cohen unboxes a tiny plastic doughnut toy and asks Arpaio explain what "communists" are doing to stop people from having guns.

"Well that's a big issue," Arpaio says. "I will say over and over again: Guns don't kill. People kill.”



"OMG, super crazy," Cohen said, introducing the donut.

"That looks good," Arpaio said, eyeing the chocolate miniature doughnut.

Cohen says the doughnut is anti-gun, prompting Arpaio to address the toy and explain his position.

Arpaio, peering down at the doughnut, told it that bad guys will get guns and "will kill you. I'm hoping that someone else in there will have the gun and will shoot that person before he shoots you."

The doughnut, through Cohen, thanked him for his explanation.

Cohen, seemingly speaking in what Arpaio thought was his native language, spoke more gibberish.

Arpaio glanced around, looking perplexed.

Cohen then asked what Trump was like in person, and if he is rich, setting the one-time lawman up for what followed.

Arpaio answered that Trump has money, but he doesn't boast about it.

"So do you think he might have had a golden shower," Cohen asked, a reference to a sexual act mentioned in a dossier involving Trump. (The allegation hasn’t been substantiated.)

"It wouldn't surprise me," Arpaio said.

It was unclear if he understood the reference.

Cohen then set up Arpaio again, seemingly discussing the value of working with his hands, but then using a term for a sex act.

Arpaio responded, "Whatever I did in my life, I always did that extra. It gets me in trouble sometimes."

Cohen then pivoted to discussing another kind of "job," a term for oral sex, asking if Arpaio would do that job if Trump requested his help.

"I may have to say yes," Arpaio said.

Arpaio said Sunday he had been under the impression that Cohen was trying to "connect a shower with the president, that he likes gold in his house and residence," Arpaio said.

After seeing the show, he said, "He may have had a different connotation."

Arpaio said it was tough for him to catch Cohen's innuendos during the taping.

"When you look at it, it's sort of subtle," he said. "...I don't think it changed the way I answered. It was kind of a little suspicious, but I brushed through it."

Arpaio added, "I don't even understand what the guy's talking about. I was not entertained. It was very boring, believe me...I don't think this guy got me."

The former sheriff said he talked with Cohen for about an hour about illegal immigration, border security and other issues, but those topics were not used in the segment.

"I thought I handled myself good, but it sure didn't look good," he said.

Arpaio has previously said he should have vetted the request from Cohen's team, but he no longer has a large staff.

Voters booted him from office in 2016.

Arpaio said those involved in the elaborate production told him they were hoping the show would be picked up by Showtime, and bragged about landing Sarah Palin, U.S. Sen. John McCain's 2008 running mate, for a separate interview.

Follow the reporter on Twitter @yvonnewingett and Facebook. Email her: yvonne.wingett@arizonarepublic.com.

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