Egyptian-American comedian, writer, and actor Ramy Youssef seized the spotlight during his debut on Saturday Night Live, using his platform to advocate for a free Palestine– just months after Timothee Chalamet’s SNL skit was criticized of poking fun at the genocide, sparking backlash online. In a seamlessly crafted monologue, he navigated through topics ranging from his faith and “habibi energy” to the significance of the holy month of Ramadan and the tragic reality of the ongoing genocide in Gaza in a performance that served as a poignant reminder of the potency of comedy as a tool for addressing pressing global issues
Launching into his monologue, Youssef humorously remarked, “We’re in the holy month of Ramadan. Tomorrow is Easter. And yesterday, Beyoncé released a new album. There’s just so many religions celebrating all at once.” With his trademark wit and sarcasm, he effortlessly delivered punchlines that elicited laughter from the audience from proposing a female president to comically navigating the dynamics of prayer within his social circle. “In my friend group, I’m one of the only guys who prays. I’m friends with a lot of sinners—just disgusting people and they call me when they’re in trouble because they want me to pray for them,” he sarcastically says.
The Poor Things actor followed up with a humorous anecdote, sharing that he had recently offered prayers for a friend embroiled in a custody battle over his dog. However, he then shifted the tone, revealing that another friend had reached out, pleading for prayers for their family trapped in Gaza. Recounting his conversation with his friend Ahmed, the 33-year-old conveyed the depth of despair, quoting Ahmed’s plea: “They’re suffering. I don’t know where half of them are. Please pray for them. It’s the only thing we can do.”
“Dude, I got you,’” he said. “So that night, I went to pray, and my prayers are complicated. I’ve got a lot to fit in. I’m like, ‘God, please, please help Ahmed’s family. Please stop the suffering. Stop the violence. Please free the people of Palestine, please. And please free the hostages, all the hostages, please.” Youssef says.
The comedian has remained steadfastly outspoken about the ongoing genocide in Gaza, exemplified by his choice to wear an Artists for Ceasefire pin to the 2024 Academy Awards. On the red carpet, he delivered a powerful message, advocating for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza. “We’re calling for peace and lasting justice for the people of Palestine,” he declared, emphasizing the universal importance of halting the violence. “It’s a universal message of, ‘Let’s stop killing kids. Let’s not be part of more war,'” he passionately stated.
Currently promoting his latest comedy special, Ramy Youssef: More Feelings, he continues to use his platform to offer insightful reflections on the complexities of our world. Through his comedic lens, he tackles topics ranging from the 2024 presidential election to the transformative power of prayer and personal anecdotes that shaped his worldview.
Youssef received a nomination for the Critics’ Choice Awards and a Writers Guild Award in 2020 for his inaugural HBO comedy special, Ramy Youssef: Feelings.
