Home / Arts and Entertainment / Ramy Youssef Sparks Outrage With 'Sesame Street' Arabic Lesson
Ramy Youssef Sparks Outrage With 'Sesame Street' Arabic Lesson
21 Apr
Summary
- Ramy Youssef taught Elmo Arabic words, including 'habibi' and 'salamu alaykum'.
- Conservative critics expressed anger over the Arabic immersion on the children's show.
- Youssef noted the irony, referencing Trump's past use of an Arabic phrase.
Ramy Youssef recently appeared on 'Sesame Street' to celebrate Arab American Heritage Month, teaching Elmo common Arabic phrases such as "habibi" and "salamu alaykum." This segment quickly drew criticism from conservative commentators, including Fox News contributor Raymond Arroyo, who expressed concern about the show incorporating Arabic immersion. Arroyo suggested that 'Sesame Street' should limit its educational scope to letters and numbers.
Youssef responded to the controversy on 'The View,' acknowledging the conservative outrage. He humorously pointed out the irony, particularly referencing a past social media post by then-President Trump that included the Arabic phrase "Praise be to Allah." Youssef shared his personal emotional experience of hearing Elmo speak Arabic, noting his surprise at the intensity of the backlash.
The comedian highlighted that previous instances of diverse language use on 'Sesame Street' had not generated similar negative reactions. Youssef, who has been open about contentious topics like the Israel-Palestine conflict, found it peculiar that Elmo using "Habibi" elicited such a strong response. His third HBO comedy special, "In Love," premiered recently.
