Bassem Youssef
Bassem Youssef, often referred to as the ‘Jon Stewart’ of the Arab world, is an Egyptian-American surgeon who has since transitioned to political satire. With a platform of over 18 million followers, he spreads misinformation about the Jewish state and promotes hateful conspiracy theories against Jews. Youssef is charismatic, articulate, and well-respected in both the medical and media communities, having received various awards and accolades throughout his career.
Just two weeks after the 10/7 massacre, Youssef appeared on Piers Morgan’s show making inflammatory jokes about the Israeli Defense Forces and joking that his Palestinian wife uses their kids as human shields. Despite Morgan’s visible discomfort, Youssef persisted to mock the IDF for warning civilians before bombings and calling it “cute.” Invited back for a second interview, Youssef escalated his offensive remarks, saying, “McDonald’s are giving free meals to Israelis. Because nothing will make you feel better after killing a bunch of Palestinian kids than a Happy Meal.”
Following the horrific stint with Piers Morgan, Bassem joined a podcast with media company Zeteo, co-hosted by former “Antisemite of the Week,” Mehdi Hasan. Youssef and Hasan discuss the so-called “Israeli propaganda” following the events of 10/7, covering baseless theories such as Israel killing its own people and disputing Anthony Blinken’s testimony before Congress. Hasan mentions the horrific atrocities committed by Hamas, including babies being baked in ovens—tragic and well-documented facts. Youssef callously disputes these truths, stating, “The only way you think it’s a baby baked in an oven is if you are on acid. Either you’re a liar or you’re on very, very bad drugs.”
On April 8th, 2024, Youssef tweeted his disdain for what he dismissively calls the “victimhood card,” which he accuses Jews of exploiting. This response reveals a troubling pattern: whenever Youssef is confronted with accusations of antisemitism, his immediate reaction is to trivialize the criticism, claiming that the label no longer holds any real significance. In a subsequent interview with France 24, he reiterated this dismissive attitude, ridiculing the antisemitic label as overused and laughable.
In a recent podcast episode with Theo Von on August 1st, 2024, Von and Youssef discussed the Israel-Hamas war, touching on themes like “land theft” and “oppressors.” At one point, Von asked if it’s true that many believe the media is controlled by Jews. Youssef responded affirmatively, asserting, “It is,” and extended this baseless claim to suggest that the corporate world and other institutions are also under Jewish control. This dangerous rhetoric echoes centuries-old antisemitic conspiracy theories that have been used to incite violence against the global Jewish community.
Despite pushback and various controversies, Bassem Youssef has continued his tour as a “comedian” and sold out shows worldwide. Youssef’s pure hatred for Jews, dismissiveness of the crimes by Hamas, and continued use of antisemitic tropes dangerously incite hatred towards Jews everywhere and needs to be exposed and challenged.