Comedian Bassem Youssef quits X over ‘safety issues’ after Gaza posts
Egyptian-American comedian and TV host Bassem Youssef deactivated his account on X, formerly known as Twitter, on Monday, citing safety concerns related to his posts about Gaza.
"Antisemitism was an accusation that used to freeze the blood in people’s veins. I see many people now realising how this fear tactic is used to shut down conversations and scare people," Youssef wrote in his final post on the platform, where he had nearly 12 million followers.
“It’s been overused and abused in order to intimidate people. Are you still scared to be called an antisemite by those Zionists? Vote and tell me in your comments.”
Fans initially speculated that the pro-Palestine comedian was banned from the platform due to his last posts criticising how antisemitism accusations are frequently used to distract from discussions about Israel’s war on Gaza.
Youssef later clarified in a post on Instagram that he was not banned.
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"No, my X account wasn't taken down by X and I don't wish to falsely victimize myself using this," he wrote.
"When safety issues concerning my loved ones are alleviated, I might consider coming back. I wish to deal with this away from the media. I will still be posting my content on TikTok, Insta and FB."
Youssef also shared a screenshot of Israel’s official account celebrating his departure from the social media platform, reacting with: “How fragile can you be when the official account of your country acts like a little bitch?”
Youssef has been an outspoken critic of Israel’s war on Gaza since it began on 7 October 2023. He gained viral attention last year after his interviews with British talk show host Piers Morgan, where he used his signature dark humour to highlight Palestinian suffering and Islamophobia.
“I left Egypt because I wasn’t able to say what was on my mind and came to America, the land of the free, the home of the brave. And suddenly, when you talk about certain things, you get accused of all things left, right and centre,” Youssef said in an interview with BBC Hardtalk, referring to the accusations of antisemitism he has received while criticising Israel.
He added that criticising Saudi Arabia or other Arab states does not lead to accusations of Islamophobia.
Youssef, a heart surgeon turned comedian, was forced to flee Egypt in 2014 after mocking President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, who came to power through a military coup that ousted the democratically elected president, Mohamed Morsi.
His satirical news show, al-Bernameg, drew around 40 million viewers and prompted comparisons to American comedian and political commenter Jon Stewart.
Youssef’s wife, Hala Diab, is Egyptian Palestinian and he frequently voices concerns about the safety of her family in Gaza.
According to the UN, the “only certainty” for Gaza's 2.3 million residents is the lack of escape from Israeli attacks.
Over 40,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks since the war began on 7 October, according to the Palestinian health ministry.
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