Baron Cohen's fallen angel brings out devil in Eminem

But was rapper in on the joke as comedian lands in his lap at MTV awards?

Actor Sacha Baron Cohen onstage during the 18th Annual MTV Movie Awards held at the Gibson Amphitheatre on May 31, 2009 in Universal City, California Photo: Getty Images

Chris Green

Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it's a British comedian posing as a gay Austrian fashionista landing on Eminem's face.

The rapper stormed out of the MTV Movie Awards in Los Angeles on Sunday night after the stunt, in which Sacha Baron Cohen descending from the rafters in a harness to present the award for Best Male Performance.

The comedian, who is best known for his characters Ali G and Borat, appeared above the heads of the audience dressed as an angel in a silver thong, in keeping with the guise of another of his creations, Bruno, a homosexual Austrian television presenter.

To roars of laughter from those seated below, the comedian (37) appeared to get into difficulties as he was being lowered from the ceiling, shouting: "Argh, scheisse! My kugelsack! One of the wires is trapped around my kugelsack!"

Butt

The video clip of the incident, which has already racked up thousands of hits on YouTube, shows Eminem gazing confusedly upwards at the descending comedian, who then lands directly in his lap.

Apparently unhappy at being made the (literal) butt of Baron Cohen's joke, the rapper is heard shouting: "Are you serious? Are you f***** serious? "Get this motherf***** off me!", as his minders struggle to extricate his head from between the comedian's thighs.

When he is finally free, he is seen getting out of his seat and pushing his way angrily out of the auditorium.

As he did so, Baron Cohen provokes more laughter by mockingly quoting a line from one of his early songs: "Is the real Slim Shady about to stand up?"

Evidence

It is unclear whether Eminem, who performed two songs on stage earlier in the night, was genuinely angry or merely playing a part in the stunt, which was broadcast live on television.

There have been claims that the rapper (36), who is currently publicising his album Relapse, must have been aware of the stunt and must have approved it. Stunt theorists point to MTV footage as evidence.

Baron Cohen's new movie Bruno -- a "mockumentary" revolving around his flamboyant Austrian character in the same vein as his 2006 film Borat -- is due to be released next month.

While still hanging upside down, the comedian announced the category winner as High School Musical actor Zac Efron.

When he eventually reached the stage, the bemused 21-year-old said: "That was really weird. It's the coolest way I have ever been invited up to accept one of these."

hnews@herald.ie