Ramy Youssef: More Feelings
Ramy Youssef, the comedian and actor, has a new standup comedy special in which he deals with being caught in the middle between the different sides during Israel’s war against Hamas terrorists in Gaza. In the upcoming “Ramy Youssef: More Feelings” set to air on HBO he responds to people who call on him to support Hamas simply because he is a Muslim.
Youssef’s work often tackles social and political issues, particularly those related to the Muslim American experience. He doesn’t shy away from complex topics, using humor to navigate sensitive ground. And this has been especially difficult for any Muslim in America since the barbaric Hamas terrorist massacre carried out on innocent Israeli civilians last October 7.
Speaking about this in the new show, Ramy Youssef says he is “sick of being doubted,” and asks “Do you think any of us [Muslims/Arabs] like what happened on October 7? It’s awful. We hate seeing people die. It’s inhumane. It made me cry.”
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“You think I’m like Hamas?” Yousef asked of those who criticized his supporting aid for the people in Gaza answering his own question with the sarcastic comment, “Bro, I’m a Taliban guy.”
“They’re trying to tell me [fellow Arabs] I’m supposed to have a problem with Jewish people,” Youssef added. “They throw this whole thing, Muslim, Jewish, Holy War.”
Ramy Youssef, however, has donated proceeds from recent shows to aid people in Gaza and has called publicly for a ceasefire there.
When asked if he feels a responsibility of some sort at this tie in an interview with the, Youssef answered, “There is this scarcity [of visible Muslim artists]. And then there’s the idea of wanting representation. On one hand, I realize that’s part of what I’m in. And on another hand, I don’t really believe in being representation. I don’t know how qualified I am for that. You know, I will fail you.”
The comic went on to say that he is concerned for the communities that he is involved with, explaining, “It’s why I do things that are outside of art. But it’s also why I’ll do comedic critiques. It all comes from: I’m part of this, and it’s why I’m making fun of it.”
Ramy Youssef is an American stand-up comedian, actor, screenwriter, and director of Egyptian descent. He is best known for his role as Ramy Hassan in the Hulu comedy series “Ramy” (2019-2022). The show, which he co-created, explores the experiences of a young Muslim American navigating his faith, family, and love life. His performance garnered critical acclaim, including a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Television Series Musical or Comedy in 2020.
