AN Egyptian-American comedian, actor and director called for an end to violence and suffering in Palestine on Saturday Night Live's global stage.
Ramy Youssef made the comments in his opening monologue for the live sketch show, while focusing on the Muslim American experience throughout Ramadan.
As the week's SNL host, Youssef opened with: “I love Ramadan because I love hanging out with Muslims. We’re so loving and I feel that people don’t know that about us. We love to love, we’re so free with it.”
After jibes at both President Joe Biden and Donald Trump ahead of the US election campaign ramping up this summer, Youssef shared one friend had asked him to pray for his family in Gaza.
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“So that night I go to pray and my prayers are … complicated. I’ve got a lot to fit in. My God, please, please help Ahmed’s family. Please stop the suffering. Stop the violence. Please free the people of Palestine. Please.”
A video shared online told viewers "to loud cheers and applause" the host made the calls.
After the applause, he added: “And please free the hostages, all the hostages.”
To loud cheers and applause, the host of #SNL, Ramy Youssef, declares: “God, please stop the suffering. Stop the violence. Please free the people of Palestine, please.” After the applause: “And please free the hostages, all the hostages.” pic.twitter.com/4x4fXVQqOD
— Brent Baker 🇺🇦 🇮🇱 (@BrentHBaker) March 31, 2024
The monologue was widely hailed by viewers and online.
Youssef recently won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in his show Ramy and starred in Poor Things alongside Emma Stone and Willem Dafoe.
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