The Dictator pours ‘ashes’ over Ryan Seacrest

Sacha Baron Cohen pulled off yet another scandalous publicity stunt to promote his latest movie, The Dictator, last night.

Initially banned by the Academy from pulling such a stunt, bosses finally gave in and allowed the British comedian to take to the carpet dressed as General Aladeen, who tipped an urn  containing ‘the ashes of Kim Jong II’ over a furious Ryan Seacrest.

Cohen was quickly bundled away from the angry E! presenter by huge bodyguards.

Flanked by sexy military assistants carrying flowers, Sacha Baron Cohen’s antics were a massive hit with everyone apart from his po-faced victim.

Cohen’s latest creation received the biggest cheer of the night, and made himself the hottest topic of conversation in a matter of mere seconds.

Stars like Tina Fey waited in line to pose by the powder, and over at the Vanity Fair bash – Olivia Wilde mentioned in an interview that she hoped Cohen would bring the ashes to the party later.

It all started tamely for Seacrest when asked: ‘Who are you wearing?’

Cohen replied gamely: ‘I’m wearing John Galliano, but the socks are from K-Mart! As Saddam Hussein once said to me, socks are socks, don’t waste money.’

But then he added: ‘I love it here because it gave me an opportunity to bring my dear friend and tennis partner, Kim Jong-il.

All the while showing a gold urn with the North Korean leader who died in December emblazoned on its front.

He said: ‘It was my dream to come to the Oscars and be sprinkled over the red carpet and Halle Berry’s chest again.’

Then he appeared to stumble and poured the contents all over Seacrest’s Burberry suit.

The mixture, which turned out to be Bisquik pancake mix, covered the front of Seacrest, who didn’t see the funny side.

Cohen, who appeared delighted that his stunt had worked wonderfully, added: ‘Now when people ask what you’re wearing, you will say Kim Jong-il!”

‘Part of me thought he would be up to something!’ said Ryan, ‘He was either going to do that to me or George Clooney, right?’

Seacrest then wrote on his Twitter page: ‘My mom always told me to pack two jackets for red carpets, always wondered why. Now I know.’

He later added: ‘A lot of people hitting up afterparties tonight…me? I’m hosting a pancake breakfast tomorrow.’

His co-presenters Kelly Osbourne and Giuliania Rancic were delighted, however.

Osbourne chuckled and said it was ‘priceless,’ while Rancic tried to comfort Seacrest by reminding him that he will be trending worldwide.

OSCARS 2012: FULL LIST OF WINNERS