Khaberni - Egyptian media figure Bassem Youssef sparked a new wave of controversy after his appearance in the second part of his interview with presenter Ahmed Salem on the program "Final Word" broadcast on ON channel, where he spoke candidly about his personal and professional life, and the reactions provoked by his previous statements. The episode also marked the first media appearance of his Palestinian doctor wife, Hala Diab.
At the beginning of his talk, Bassem Youssef discussed the reactions following the first part of the interview last week, explaining that he expected diverse opinions on his statements, yet he was surprised by comments he found astonishing, saying that some people thought he had changed and was no longer the same.
He added, "It's natural for me to change after eleven years, I am now fifty-one years old, I have a different life, experiences, new ideas, and it's natural for me to evolve and learn... Even Egypt itself has changed, as well as the circumstances and feelings."
When asked about being classified as a political dissident, he answered sarcastically: "Of course, it's my bread and butter, I do not understand what real opposition means, nor what I should do to not be labeled as a fake dissenter."
He explained that he sees himself as an artist who mocks the reality around him like everyone else, saying, "My problem is that my voice is a bit loud, so it causes a bigger stir than others, and sometimes I keep silent to preserve the space of expression that I possess."
Youssef mentioned his satisfaction with his current life path, affirming that he does not wish to change it, and added: "I present content like anyone else in the public sphere, whether political, satirical, or social, and the audience is the one who evaluates this work and determines its success."
In the same interview, Bassem Youssef spoke about his late mother, saying: "She asked me to teach her how to use the YouTube site to watch my programs, and that was the worst decision of my life, and something I regret the most, because she watched people swearing at her just because she is my mother, and therefore she did not enjoy my program."
In her first appearance, Palestinian doctor Hala Diab talked about her constant fear for him, explaining that she was afraid of the reactions during his program in Egypt, and still feels anxious in the United States due to the ease of owning weapons there.
She said: "I was afraid for him from the Muslim Brotherhood and from people's reactions during the broadcast of his program in Egypt, and now in America I am also afraid, because anyone can easily buy a weapon, which continually raises my fear for him."
In turn, Bassem Youssef revealed that his wife often asks him to stop talking about political matters for the safety of the family, confirming that fame has caused her significant psychological pressure due to the difficult experiences they have gone through together over the past years.
Jokingly, he added: "She was deceived in marrying me, seeing nothing but tension, anxiety, and fear, and I seize this opportunity to apologize to her for our marriage prank that she lived through."
