A Georgia lawmaker is being called on to resign after he repeatedly shouted the n-word and dropped his pants on Sunday night's episode of Who Is America?
Jason Spencer, a Republican state representative from southeast Georgia, appeared on the show with its host Sacha Baron Cohen, who was in character as Col. Erran Morad.
During the final lesson, Baron Cohen tells Spencer to use his "buttocks to intimidate ISIS," because it will turn ISIS members into "homosexuals."
Spencer then pulls his pants and underwear down and chases Baron Cohen around while yelling, "I'll touch you with my buttocks" and "America!"
Watch the full clip here:
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In response to the video, Spencer has faced mounting criticism, including from Georgia's Republican governor, Nathan Deal, who said he found the behavior "appalling and offensive."
The actions and language used by Jason Spencer are appalling and offensive. There is no excuse for this type of behavior, ever, and I am saddened and disgusted by it.
Georgia House Speaker David Ralston called for Spencer's resignation in a statement sent to BuzzFeed News.
"The actions and language used on this video are reprehensible," said Ralston. "Representative Spencer has disgraced himself and should resign immediately."
Kaleb McMichen, the communications director for the House Speaker's Office, told BuzzFeed News that the House Majority Leader Jon Burns and House Minority Leader Bob Trammell are considering filing a joint ethics complaint over Spencer's behavior. McMichen added that a complaint would have to go through the ethics committee process.
Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle also tweeted that Spencer should resign "immediately." And
Georgia Secretary of State Brian Kemp, a Republican, also tweeted that Spencer should resign.
BuzzFeed News reached out to Spencer, but did not immediately respond.
In a statement to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution Monday, the lawmaker apologized for the "ridiculously ugly episode," but defended himself by saying that "Sacha Baron Cohen and his associates took advantage of my paralyzing fear that my family would be attacked."
Last year, Spencer also came under fire for telling former Georgia state representative LaDawn Jones, a black woman, that she would not be "met with torches but something a lot more definitive" if she continued to push for the removal of Confederate statues in the state. Other Georgia politicians had called for his resignation at the time.
Spencer, who has served as a Georgia lawmaker since 2010, told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that he refuses to step down. However, he only has months left in office after losing to Republican challenger Steven Sainz in the May primaries. His terms ends in November.
Jason Spencer apologizes for using racial slurs and exposing himself on a #WhoIsAmerica TV show but will not resign from office. #gapol https://t.co/rBNE2JAsPn
This is not the first time Baron Cohen's new show has tricked American politicians. In last week's premiere episode, several Republicans were duped into endorsing a program to arm toddlers with guns.
CORRECTION
Baron Cohen tells Spencer, "The n-word is nooni." A previous version of this article mistranscribed the line.