Sacha Baron Cohen was escorted off the Oscars red carpet after the funnyman tried to pull off a publicity stunt for his new film, The Dictator , arriving as a middle eastern leader and claiming to be carrying the ashes of former North Korean leader Kim Jong-II.

The British comedian was in character as Admiral General Aladeen in a white military uniform with gold epaulets.

Cohen walked the carpet with two female guards and in an interview with TV host, Ryan Seacrest, he said it was Kim’s dying wish “to be sprinkled over the red carpet and over Halle Berry’s chest’’.

He then tipped the urn over Seacrest, covering his tuxedo in white dust. Cohen, 40, who is known for outrageous publicity stunts in films like Borat and Bruno , was bundled off the red carpet by security guards.

Turning to the camera, Seacrest said: “Anything can happen and it most certainly did, all over my lapel.”

Cohen’s film is expected to be released in March. He was invited to the Oscars as a cast member of Martin Scorsese’s multiple award nominee Hugo.

Earlier there were reports that he had been forbidden to attend the ceremony after asking to arrive in character as Admiral General Aladeen — which the Academy denied.

After the red carpet stunt, Moneyball actor Jonah Hill, who was nominated for best supporting actor, said, “I guess the Oscars isn’t the best place to sell your movie. I think he’s a funny guy, though.”

30 Rock actress Tina Fey saw the funny side, and crossed herself over the ashes as she walked past.

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