Khaberni - Bassem Youssef topped social media platforms after a video was released showing him at one of his comedy shows helping a Jordanian girl achieve her dream of traveling to El Gouna, Egypt, for a New Year's vacation.
The girl asked Bassem Youssef to record a video addressed to her mother to convince her to allow the trip to El Gouna, amid the mother's concerns for her daughter's safety and her hesitation to approve the idea.
In his characteristic mocking style, Bassem Youssef humorously addressed the girl’s mother, trying to alleviate her concerns and introduce a humorous atmosphere, before confirming to her that El Gouna is a safe and well-organized tourist destination, a closed area subject to clear arrangements, welcoming visitors from various nationalities.
However, a comment made by Bassem Youssef in the video, where he jokingly said that the girl would go, “have fun, mess around and come back pregnant,” was made.
These words by Bassem caused a broad wave of controversy, as many considered it an unfortunate joke that exceeded the bounds of humor, while others felt that the phrase was taken out of its comedic context, and that its purpose was satire, not offense.
The controversy quickly expanded on social media, where opinions were divided between those who defended Bassem Youssef, considering that comedy by nature relies on exaggeration and breaking taboos, and those who strongly criticized him, considering the comment damaging to Egypt’s tourism image, presenting it as an unsafe ethical place, or promoting a negative stereotype about tourism there.
