Ramy Youssef made his debut as host on Saturday Night Live this week, and the comedian took a moment to reflect on his faith and address the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict. As he set a tone of humor mixed with some sensible commentary, Youssef began his monologue on a light note.
“This is an incredibly spiritual weekend. We’re in the holy month of Ramadan. Tomorrow is Easter. And yesterday, Beyoncé released a new album. There’s just so many religions celebrating all at once,” he said. Transitioning to a more serious note, Youssef shared insights into the power of prayer from his perspective.
“In my friend group, I’m one of the only guys who prays. I’m friends with a lot of sinners — like, just disgusting people. And they call me when they’re in trouble because they want me to pray for them,” he joked.
Youssef then recounted a personal experience receiving a prayer request from a friend named Ahmed, who asked him to pray for his family in Gaza. “I’m like, ‘Dude, I got you.’ So that night, I go to pray, and my prayers are… complicated,” Youssef said. “I’ve got a lot to fit in.”
The comedian continued with a touch of humor, “I’m like, ‘God, please, please help Ahmed’s family. Please stop the suffering. Stop the violence. Please free the people of Palestine, please.’” He then added, “‘And please free the hostages, all the hostages, please.’”
Striking a balance between solemnity and levity, Youssef again lightened the mood as he further injected some humor in his prayer. “‘And while you’re at it, you know, free Mr. Bojangles. He’s a beautiful dog. I’m praying for that dog,’” he said.
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Ramy Youssef Has Been Vocal About The Palestinian Cause Amid The Ongoing War
Ramy Youssef has been vocal about his advocacy for peace in Palestine since the beginning of the deadly Israel-Hamas War in October 2023. He had also previously worn an Artists for Ceasefire pin to the Academy Awards, asserting the need for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and lasting justice for the Palestinian people.
Speaking to Variety on the Oscars red carpet, he also spoke about the importance of artists lending their voices to such causes. “We’re calling for immediate, permanent ceasefire in Gaza. We’re calling for peace and lasting justice for the people of Palestine,” Youssef said.
“It’s a universal message of, ‘Let’s stop killing kids. Let’s not be part of more war.’ No one has ever looked back at war and thought a bombing campaign was a good idea,” he added.
“To be surrounded by so many artists who are willing to lend their voices… the list is growing. A lot of people are going to be wearing these pins tonight. There’s a lot of talking heads on the news. This is a space of talking hearts. We’re trying to have this big beam to humanity,” the ‘Poor Things‘ actor said.
This is not the first time that the Israel-Hamas war has been brought up on SNL. Many other hosts have spoken up about the injustice happening in Gaza. Pete Davidson was one such host, who addressed the violence in the Middle East during the 49th season opener. In his monologue, Davidson drew from personal experience to convey the devastating impact of conflict on innocent civilians, as he asked for peace and compassion.
The Israel-Hamas War has been on for over 6 months now, killing several innocent people in both Israel and Palestine. As per Al Jazeera, at least 32,782 Palestinians have been killed and 75,298 wounded in Israeli attacks on Gaza since October 7. The death toll in Israel from Hamas’s October 7 attack stands at 1,139, with dozens held captive at the moment.
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