“It’s more nerve-racking” — Ramy Youssef addresses controversy surrounding his Saturday Night Live monologue

Comedian Ramy Youssef recently opened up about his decision to mention Palestine during his March 2024 Saturday Night Live hosting gig, acknowledging the uncommon nature of such remarks on live television.

"It's more nerve-racking to not say something," the comedian told The New York Times in a new interview.

He elaborated further:

"It's more nerve-racking to try to shield yourself from whatever criticism is gonna come. And plenty of it has come. But I get more tense if I'm sitting quietly, trying to stay safe."

After utilizing his platform on the NBC sketch comedy show to pray for Palestine and the liberation of hostages, the creator and star of the critically acclaimed sitcom "Ramy" provoked debate. One of the most talked-about parts of the broadcast was Youssef's monologue, which began when he related a personal anecdote about a friend who asked him to pray for family members in Gaza.

Some questioned if the esteemed Studio 8H stage was the right place for such remarks, while others applauded his candor. Despite the mixed reception, Youssef maintains that his statements were reasonable and necessary.

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Ramy Youssef defends his Saturday Night Live monologue

In his recent interview, Ramy Youssef defended his SNL monologue without hesitation.

"What I said is completely inoffensive," he told The New York Times.

Declaring boldly:

"People are sensitive about it. Or people might say: 'Well, why didn't you say this? Or why didn't you do that?' But there's nothing controversial about any of it."

During his original SNL appearance, Ramy Youssef had recounted a conversation with his friend Ahmed, who was concerned about family in Gaza. Youssef shared his prayer:

"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 emphasized that wanting peace and the protection of innocent lives shouldn't be considered controversial. He made it clear: no one supports the indiscriminate bombing of civilians, and no one supports hostage-taking. These, he stressed, are universal human concerns.

Youssef also pointed to the way power dynamics are often ignored or flattened in public discussions of the conflict. He urged people to look more closely at who holds control, especially over essential resources like electricity, water, and humanitarian aid. For him, describing the situation purely as a "war" misses the deeper truth.

He illustrated how limited autonomy can significantly impact survival by comparing the imbalance to a wrestling match where one side controls how many calories and how much water the other side is permitted to ingest.

Despite the backlash his comments received in some circles, Youssef appears unmoved by criticism, suggesting that his conscience guides his public statements.

"That's why I'm not afraid," he remarked.

Explaining:

"Because it's like: What did I say? 'Stop killing kids.' 'Oh, my God, this guy's crazy.' What? It's not a thing."

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Other highlights of Ramy Youssef’s SNL monologue

Youssef's SNL appearance wasn't exclusively focused on international politics. He also joked about being approached by Joe Biden's campaign to help connect with Arab American voters.

"And our country is so messed up that for five minutes, I was like, 'Is this up to me?'" he quipped to audience laughter.

The comedian also suggested America should elect a transgender woman as president, noting the audience's tepid response with characteristic self-awareness:

"A little less support," he observed, before playfully imagining such a candidate's campaign slogan about real change.

"Anything I've said sincerely, I could tattoo it to myself because there's no problem," he concluded, emphasizing his commitment to speaking honestly regardless of consequences.

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Saturday Night Live airs live on NBC every Saturday at 11:30 p.m. ET.