Ramy Youssef The comedian on his new special More Feelings, connecting with the Palestinian cause, and finding laughter in vulnerability
You don’t shy away from talking about therapy and intimacy. What was it like leaning into that kind of vulnerability?I never want to do comedy that feels like it’s critiquing others without critiquing myself. That’s been a rule for me. This special [premiering in March 2024 on HBO] is definitely a more full embodiment of that idea. There’s a hope I have that if I could lay out what’s going on and how I think about it, that maybe I can be someone that makes harder things a little softer to digest.
Was there a discomfort that came with turning inward, or do you feel comfortable with this level of self-disclosure?Between the first special and the second special, I got a lot more comfortable. Part of that was because of digging inwards in making my [Hulu] show, Ramy. It’s a process that has become much more familiar to me, but then I also feel young. In a lot of ways, I’m just at the beginning of my career.
Is there another season of Ramy?
There is. Whenever we find our way back, there’s going to be a bit of a time jump.
You open your special by talking about the issues you speak out about. Why be vocal about the Palestinian cause?I did stand-up there many years ago, and I felt a very organic connection to the people there. I have worked with a lot of people who live there, I have friends who are there. They have been incredibly underserved and they are without justice. So for it to blend into my work is just a natural extension. It’s kind of a no-brainer to talk about it.
Are there particular risks that come with that support?I don’t think so. It’s about genuinely connecting to people who desperately need that connection. Anytime you put yourself onscreen, there’s going to be some blowback of people being like, ‘Dude, you’re ugly’ or ‘Hey, you suck.’ For as much as I circle around politics, I’m not actually discussing political theory. I’m more discussing how it makes me feel, and that’s why I’ve named both specials Feelings.
You get at how the gay and trans issue has been divisive and complicated for the Muslim community. How have you tried to depict some of that tension creatively in your work?I try to
