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I am Bassem Youssef, the "Jon Stewart of the Middle East!" Tickling Giants, the new movie about me, is out today on iTunes. AMA!
At the start of the Arab Spring in Egypt, I decided to leave my job as a heart surgeon to become a late-night comedian. We wanted to find a creative, non-violent way to protect free speech and fight a president who abused his power.
I am the subject of Tickling Giants (100% on RT!), a new documentary directed by a senior producer at The Daily Show. You can buy the movie on iTunes starting today! (It's un-rated by the MPAA, just like this AMA.)
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/Byoussef
- Movie site: http://TicklingGiants.com
- Buy on iTunes: http://apple.co/TicklingGiants
- Trailer: http://ticklinggiants.com/post/150357473505/trailer
Proof: https://i.redd.it/clln6wzgip1z.jpg
I also wrote a book - Revolution for Dummies: Laughing Through the Arab Spring
You'll laugh, you'll cry, and I'll make 20 cents.
I'm being helped with typing by a kind gentleman at an English-only computer, so questions in Arabic are okay, but things will move faster if we keep things to English.
Edit: Thanks for a wonderful AMA everyone! Sorry I couldn't get to all of you. It was a blast! Please check out Tickling Giants.
BassemYoussef2207 karma
The same Egyptians attack people who live in Egypt when they criticize the country and tell them, "If you don't like the country, why don't you leave?"
XXISerenaIXX528 karma
Hi Bassem. You are probably on a black list in Egypt and would be arrested if you were to land in Cairo Airport. My question is: Do you want to go back to Egypt and pursue your career there if you are removed from the black list or are you going to continue your career in the US even after that?
BassemYoussef875 karma
I don't think I'm going to be off the black list any time soon so I'm going to focus on doing things here in the States. I don't think there's an actual black list. Everything in Egypt is open for interpretation. There are no rules any more.
Salould522 karma
Hi Bassem , What would be the ultimate advice you'd give to the arab youth ?
BassemYoussef1547 karma
Question everything. Don't let anybody blackmail you by fake patriotism or fake religious doctrine.
costa79486 karma
Hello Bassem. Would you consider hosting your own late-night show here in the States if given the opportunity?
BassemYoussef536 karma
No, Sara Taksler. She worked for 4 years to bring together Tickling Giants. Please watch it!
Sagathor1267 karma
Serious question. Do you think that the revolution did more harm than good? Would it have been better now, if it never have happened?
BassemYoussef584 karma
No, the revolution is just a reaction to an already corrupt regime. If it didn't happen then, it would happen anyways.
madeyemoe200 karma
Whats the reason you stopped the program " Al Barnamij "? Sorry if this is posted somewhere, but I want to hear it from him.
BassemYoussef482 karma
I think I answered this questions 100,000,000 times, but in short - I made jokes, the authorities didn't like the jokes, they shut me down.
Auegro186 karma
Hey a Bassem you came to visit us in Sydney a day after i went off to Egypt :(
anyhow out of all the countries you've travelled to in the last few years which country has been your favourite ?? Also what's your favourite Egyptian meal ??
Portarossa175 karma
When he finished with The Daily Show, Jon Stewart went to raise animals on a farm upstate. When he left the Presidency, Barack Obama went kitesurfing.
What's the Bassem Youssef plan for what happens when politics grinds you down?
IAMAThrowawayAMAA153 karma
Hi Bassem, I used to love watching your show every week when it was on the air. Do you have any advice for people who feel like they want to make a difference in Egypt but don't see themselves going back?
BassemYoussef253 karma
Work on themselves to become better at what they do. One day they can go back and serve the country when it's ready for them.
dj_from134 karma
Umm... would you rather fight: one elsisi-sized duck, or 100 duck-sized elsisi?
robots_and_cancer128 karma
Hi Dr. Youssef! Do you think the way that we cover terrorist attacks on US media emboldens extremists (with wall to wall 24-hour coverage)? If so, is there a more productive way?
BassemYoussef252 karma
Unfortunately this is what news cycles do to get ratings. They are in a tough position because if they don't cover it, others will. What emboldens extremists is that people start to change they're style of life and let that change their daily routines.
BassemYoussef256 karma
Surgery made me a much harder working person, a nerd, a perfectionist.
Both have different challenges - you either have to mess up with someone's life, or you have to live with a life of rejection in entertainment.
miroa1200468 karma
Hi ya Bassem,
Wa7eshna kteer and we miss you on our screen.
Recently there has been talk in Egypt about Khaled Ali running for president against Sisi, while the chances of him winning are slim at best, I think it is good that someone from a revolutionary background is trying to stir something in the stagnant situation in Egypt.
My question is, if you were asked, will you be willing to give support to someone like Khaled? Also how long do you think the situation will stay the same before something changes? BTW, how did you spend the 5 billion :D :D ?
P.S. Hope to see you on a TV show in the States soon, as an Egyptian who lives in Boston, you're making the Egyptian community proud of you.
BassemYoussef112 karma
It's always good to have some activity in a stagnant political scene like ours. However you can't have fair elections when the military is controlling everything and calling the shots. I will still support him out of principle.
behindgreeneyez66 karma
Thanks for doing this--
Like most Americans I grew up without any exposure to Arab popular culture, I want to know is how is Arab humor different or similar to that of American or British comedy?
BassemYoussef143 karma
Humor is a separate language, you can speak English, but not be able to understand humor in English. The same goes for Arabic. Even humor between Arab countries is different. There isn't a fool-proof formula for this.
behindgreeneyez39 karma
I guessed that, but what I meant is what kind of delivery is Arab humor: like dry, sarcastic humor, like aggressive making fun of people humor, or more along the lines of physical comedy.
BassemYoussef123 karma
These are all different kinds of humor that exist in Arabic, same as in English. However, the majority tend to lean towards the physical, obvious comedy. The more intelligent people tend to lean towards dry, intelligent humor, just like anywhere else in the world.
kwassakwassacapecod57 karma
Mar7aba Bassem!
You often mention that Jon Stewart and American political satirists were/are your inspiration and they helped you become who you are today. If you could give any piece of advice to Jon Stewart or any other American satirist (given your own experiences as a comedian in Egypt), what would it be?
NerdyR53 karma
Hi Bassem! Have you ever regretted being a Comedian and considered getting back to being a heart surgeon?
csisc199451 karma
Hello Bassem, * I have a final exam of medical signs tomorrow and I still have 400 pages to learn. What did you do if you were in my place? * I ask if you think that you can return to Egypt one day. Also, would you present the Carthage Film Festival Closing Ceremony another time?
BassemYoussef144 karma
Study, and stop logging onto social media.
I hope to return.
If I was invited to host it again I would do it.
LateKnighterFighter46 karma
Hello! I really like your work <3 My question is: How do you feel the recent tendency of comedians holding back less than they did before the US elections?
BassemYoussef103 karma
It's not a recent tendency. It's always been there. Thank George W Bush for 8 years.
devilschaplain32 karma
Would you consider being a guest speaker at a university in the US?
ismailsabry28 karma
Hi Bassem, Masr btsalem 3lek!!
I'm really disgusted by the way many Egyptians accuse you of conspiracy against Egypt just because you made fun of someone. It must have been a bad experience for you and your family. Do you sometimes regret your decisions and wish you just remained a cardiac surgeon?
Also, any chance we'll see a 2nd season of "The Democracy Handbook"? Was the first one a success?
BassemYoussef46 karma
I don't regret my decisions. I think the internet harassment comes with public exposure. There is no second part to The Democracy Handbook.
BlueEyezzz28 karma
Hi Bassem,
Looking forward at watching the show! I became a fan, your sense of humour is great!
You have always been dubbed as the 'Jon Stewart of Egypt' and it cracks me up every time I see that one show where you invite Jon. My question is: was he your sole inspiration for doing your own show? Or did you have other influences that helped you start to become a comedian?
BassemYoussef74 karma
Jon was the main inspiration, followed by Stephen Colbert (who also came from Jon's show). Jon's impact was amazing.
omarelbass25 karma
What was the biggest culture shock you had when you visited the US? Which one still shocks you?
BassemYoussef139 karma
After living all my life in the Middle East, nothing can ever shock me.
Rohmany24 karma
Do you still have hope that Egypt will be a democratic and free country in the next 10 years ?
Lastinline4brain19 karma
What's the best solution to bring peace and prosperity to the middle East, including Syria, Afghanistan, and Iraq, and dealing with Islamic extremism? Bonus points if it doesn't involve heavy handed US intervention.
BassemYoussef106 karma
Getting our own secular societies that don't answer to religious or military fascism.
omarelbass19 karma
Hi Bassem, Nice to see you back here again. Last time you were here, we made it clear that we are friends :)
I've followed everything you've done especially after El Bernameg. During and after El Bernameg the country was heavily divided.
Do you ever feel that you can go back and do what you were doing again if the circumstances allowed?
Do you think people will follow into your footsteps too if the circumstances allowed. (God damn those circumstances)
BassemYoussef50 karma
For the circumstances to change a lot has to happen, it's not just the change of a president. There's a whole deep state, a whole corrupt institution, and I don't think they're going away any time soon.
ThatsASlipperySlope17 karma
Hi Bassem! Really love your work, and since I know a lot of things about you already (researched), I will ask questions that are unrelated to your occupation(s).
How do you like your eggs?
What's your favorite English TV Show & Movie?
Do you prefer living in the west or back home?
How do you respond to hateful comments towards your ethnicity?
What's your favorite dank meme?
Aside from AMA's, do you use reddit?
That's all, can't wait to see more of your work!
BassemYoussef40 karma
Yes, but I'm vegan.
Frasier.
LA is amazing.
I ignore them.
It changes every 5 minutes.
No
PetMyAfro15 karma
Hey Bassem, love your work.
I am impressed by how seamlessly your humor translates to both Arabic and English audiences. Do you find it just as easy to write or improv comedy bits in English..?
trackmeifyoucan114 karma
Haven't seen you workout recently ? What do you do for exercise now ? Still a vegan ?
Hosamphilalley12 karma
did you struggle in medical school ? I find it incredibly boring and you of all people make me feel that it is not worth it seeing that you had an amazing career as a host I doubt very seriously that medicine really made any impact in your life in the long run .
BassemYoussef41 karma
Everyone struggles in medical school. It's a character builder and helped me in my TV career.
CyanideDose10 karma
In your opinion Dr. Bassem , What's really behind The current Qatar isolation ? and Why the four countries ? And do you think Israel would make a move about that ?
samuelsamvimes9 karma
1)Do you believe revolution has improved things?
2) Are you worried about extremists(like the Muslim Brotherhood did in Egypt before the military stepped in) are getting a lot of popularity in elections, and if yes what can be done about it?
BassemYoussef31 karma
Revolutions usually open doors. They don't necessarily change things instantly. They're prequels of things to come. They're not done in an instant, they're a long process. They start to question ideologies that trap people into oppression and corruption.
Which elections? In any case, we should stop trying to choose between a military option or religious option. They are two sides of the same coin.
WinstonWolf779 karma
What do you have to say about the current scuttlebutt in the Gulf, in regards to Qatar and it's long, terrible week?
BassemYoussef30 karma
I think it's going to be over before we know it. Compromises will be made, and things will go back to normal very soon.
Checkmate82 karma
In your opinion, who do you think is currently most suitable to lead the country after El-Sisi's term is over?
BassemYoussef17 karma
It's not a question of who, it's a question of creating an atmosphere to allow for a decent democracy. No one is asking who is leading Denmark, Finland, or Norway.
thesonofbolia1 karma
Were you forced to leave Egypt or you had a choice? Can you return to Egypt anytime you want? Are you placed on a black list?
BassemYoussef13 karma
I was forced to leave because they were coming to get me. I don't think I can return any time soon. I am definitely at the top of the black list.
mrshadyanwar1 karma
I have read your book and enjoyed it a lot.
Regarding how the Muslim world keep wasting opportunities, in your opinion what do Muslims have to adopt/get rid of quickly in order to move forward?
BassemYoussef17 karma
They should adopt a true secular, democratic system. That's the first step.
I_sick-lonely808 karma
Hi,
What is your reply to all the Egyptians attacking you on social meda and telling you to stop commenting on the Egyptian politics because you left Egypt??
Thanks for this AMA, I hope the best for you Dr Bassem
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