Ramy Youssef Stands Up for Teaching Elmo Arabic on ‘Sesame Street’ Amid Fox News Criticism: “It Just Means Peace”
With rising incidents of Islamophobia in the U.S. following recent tensions involving Iran, comedian Ramy Youssef has faced criticism for his recent appearance on Sesame Street.
During his segment, which aired in recognition of Arab American Heritage Month, Youssef introduced Elmo to Arabic phrases, including "habibi," meaning "my love," and "salamu alaykum," a greeting that translates to "peace be upon you." In response to the backlash, Youssef expressed his bemusement during an appearance on The View, noting, “I feel for them, right? I think they’re worried, saying Arabic immersion, and it’s got to be tough, because I think they’re supporters of the president. So imagine your president on Easter is tweeting ‘Praise be to Allah,’ and now Elmo saying ‘habibi.’ Feels threatening.”
Youssef defended the choice of phrases, emphasizing their peaceful meanings. “This is really not that difficult, it just means peace,” he stated. He remarked on the surprising nature of the backlash, noting, “There’s been a lot of languages, and there’s been no backlash to those. So, it actually really did surprise me.” He added, “literally saying ‘peace’ and ‘my special friend’… Elmo saying ‘habibi’ has set them off in a way that has never happened to me before.”
Reflecting on his own experience filming the segment with Elmo, Youssef described it as “so emotional,” particularly during a month dedicated to honoring Arab American culture. “You grow up watching Elmo, and so for Elmo to say ‘salamu alaykum,’ for Elmo to say ‘habibi,’ I was very emotional,” he recalled. “Actually, if you watch the clip, you can tell. I can’t believe it; it’s very surreal the entire time.”
