Ramy Youssef Defends Arabic Lesson on Sesame Street Amid Backlash

During Arabic American Heritage Month, *Sesame Street* aired a segment in which comedian Ramy Youssef taught the Muppet Elmo two Arabic phrases—“habibi” (my love) and “salamu alaykum” (peace be upon you). The clip debuted amid a surge of Islamophobic sentiment in the United States following recent attacks on Iran, prompting critics to view the inclusion of Arabic as politically charged.

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Ramy Youssef, a Golden Globe-winning comedian, appeared as a guest on *Sesame Street* and later discussed the segment on *The View*. Sesame Workshop, the producer of the series, created the clip. Fox News and supporters of the U.S. president have publicly criticized the segment.

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Youssef described the lesson as a straightforward educational moment, emphasizing that the Arabic words translate to “peace” and “my love.” He expressed surprise that the segment attracted criticism, noting that other language segments have not faced similar backlash. He also referenced his earlier advocacy for Palestinian causes and said the filming was “very emotional” and surreal.

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Fox News commentators and supporters of the president framed the segment as a “threatening” display of Arabic immersion, suggesting it served a political agenda. They portrayed the inclusion of “habibi” and “salamu alaykum” as an implicit endorsement of Islam, despite the phrases’ secular meanings.

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The controversy highlights how cultural representation in children’s media can become a flashpoint in broader political and religious tensions, illustrating the heightened sensitivity to Arabic language in the United States during a period of increased anti-Muslim sentiment.

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• “I think they’re worried, saying Arabic immersion, and it’s got to be tough, because I think they’re supporters of the president. So imagine your president on Easter is tweeting ‘Praise be to Allah,’ and now Elmo saying ‘habibi.’ Feels threatening.” — Ramy Youssef, Comedian

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• “There’s been a lot of languages, and there’s been no backlash to those. So, it actually really did surprise me. I guess, now I’m not surprised. But I’ve said a lot of things, and this was the thing that people have been most upset about. … literally saying ‘peace’ and ‘my special friend.’ I mean, I’ve talked about Free Palestine, I’ve talked about things that are so important to me, and people have said certain things. Elmo saying ‘habibi’ has set them off in a way that has never happened to me before.” — Ramy Youssef, Comedian

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• “You grow up watching Elmo, and so for Elmo to say ‘salamu alaykum,’ for Elmo to say ‘habibi,’ I was very emotional,” — Ramy Youssef, Comedian

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While Youssef’s remarks and Fox News criticism are documented, the sources do not contain direct statements from Fox News representatives, nor quantitative data on the scale of the backlash. Sesame Workshop has not issued an official response.

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The *Sesame Street* clip remains available online, and Youssef has not announced further public commentary. No additional statements from the network or opposing media outlets have been reported.

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