However, I have found a couple of interviews and articles more about Mahir. Quite hysterically, he was given the key to "Cyberspace" in a ceremony in San Francisco. Unfortunately, Sacha Baron Cohen probably did rip of ideas for his Borat character from this man...but that probably cant be proved and Mahir probably knows nothing about copyright laws. And what are the international copyright infringement laws? If Mahir Cagri even had his likeness copyrighted? Ahh...so many questions and cyberspace just doesnt have the answers this morning.
Here are the articles about Mahir:
Mahir Cagri Says He Inspired 'Borat'
Former Internet Superstar Is Threatening To Go To Court
Nov. 15, 2006
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Mahir Cagri, left, and Sacha Baron Cohen as Borat. (Mahir Cagri / AP)
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(CBS) The American adventures of the fictional character Borat, the Kazakh journalist creation of British comedian Sacha Baron Cohen, have U.S. audiences rolling in the aisles and box office cash registers ringing.
The president of Kazakhstan has not been amused and Russian censors banned the film, a move usually reserved for the hardest core pornography.
There is one more person who's not laughing.
Mahir Cagri, the first superstar of the Internet, made famous by his mangled syntax and desire to "invitate" women to visit him in his Turkish home.
At a ceremony in San Francisco he was named the Internet man of the year and given the key to cyberspace by one of America's biggest online companies.
His 15 minutes of fame over, Cagri never quite achieved that virtual stardom. But he's now convinced that he is the inspiration behind Borat. Dark hair, bad suits, and an interesting appreciation of the English language.
Cagri is threatening legal action and would like to make his own movie, CBS News correspondent Sheila MacVicar reports.
In an email sent to The ShowBuzz Thursday, Cagri said he is discussing the matter with lawyers. "The press all over the world said that Borat was imitating me and was stealing my character before I said so," he said. "There are a lot of proof of it and we will win the case."
Borat's creator has said the inspiration for the character was a doctor he met in southern Russia.
"I just think the that idea of someone saying, 'That Borat guy is very much like me, there would be no court in the world that would say, 'Hey, that guy's got a point!' " says Jono Coleman, a British radio and TV personality. "Since the dawn of time, comedians have been stealing from each other."
They do have one other goal in common: success with the ladies.
Cagri is still searching for the perfect woman. Borat, too, has his challenges.
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from wired.com archives November 2006
In the highly anticipated mockumentary Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan, second-world superstar Borat Sagdiyev (aka Sacha Baron Cohen of Ali G. fame) travels the US in search of love, understanding, and Pamela Anderson's welcoming bosom. But Borat's shtick –exquisitely inept English, caterpillar 'stache, sleazy non sequiturs – reminds us of another heavily accented, hirsute symbol of the sex: late-'90s Internet celebrity Mahir Cagri, whose Web site, www.ikissyou.org, implored women of the world to visit his native Turkey, "stay my home," and, yes, kiss him.
Turns out, we're not the only ones who noticed the similarities: "All people know Sacha Baron Cohen imitate only me," Cagri recently fumed via email. "He is stealing my character and giving bad message to USA people." Cagri, who's been struggling to start a career in show business ever since his boom-era glory days, says he intends to sue Baron Cohen. "He never contacted me or got my permission," he writes. "If possible you can help me too for stop this or find good lawyer?" Sorry, we can't do that, but we can give Cagri the third degree – and let Wired readers be the judge.
WIRED: In the mock-doc, Borat is a globe-trotting journalist. Are you also a man of letters?
CAGRI: I do journalism as a freelancer sometimes. I go travel sometimes and take pictures-video-write, meet people for documentary.
WIRED: Borat travels the US, examining American culture. Any memories from your visit in 1999?
CAGRI: I can't forget party about me in San Francisco. Many people kissed me, took my signature, and took picture. America mix culture and big country, but people don't think about other people. They love their own life only and fun-sex-game-drink.
WIRED: Borat plays the guitar and sings Kazakh folk tunes. Are you also musically inclined?
CAGRI: I can play many instruments, but best I play accordion-flute-mandolin-violin-drum-and-saz (Turkish instrument). I like Cher and Shakira. Their voice and songs nice I like it.
WIRED: Borat's signature is his mustache. Didn't you rock it first?
CAGRI: I start first grow mustache, 10 or 15 year ago. Sometimes, I been no mustache. I'm male and mustache shows a male mature.
WIRED: Borat has his movie. Any plans for the Mahir Cagri story?
CAGRI: I'm trying to find USA publisher, and I hope I can receive good offer from Hollywood and play my own life and share with my fans, Julia Roberts, Spielberg, David Bowie, or others, this movie.
– Steven Leckart
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