The X-account of Egyptian-American comedian Bassem Youssef disappeared on Tuesday for no apparent reason.
In a post on his Instagram account, Youssef stated that he was unsure if and when his X account would be restored, adding that all other accounts posing as him on the platform were fake.
“I’m here on Instagram and Facebook (…) I don’t want to make any media statements or interviews about it right now,” said the comedian.
The reason for deleting his account with nearly 12 million followers is unknown.
Youssef said in his last post on X before the account disappeared: “Anti-Semitism was an accusation that made people’s blood run cold. I see many people now realizing how this fear tactic is used to shut down conversations and make people afraid.
He added: “It has been overused and abused to intimidate people. Are you still afraid of being called an anti-Semite by these Zionists? Vote and tell me in the comments. No, I don’t care (…) anymore. Or: Yes, I’m still afraid.”
However, many celebrities use professional teams to manage their social media.
Last October, Youssef gave a viral interview to British journalist Piers Morgan about the Israeli offensive on Gaza, which was less than a month old at the time.
His insightful and humorous criticism of Israel’s violence against the people of Gaza and the Palestinians attracted widespread attention.
Hala Diab, Youssef’s wife, comes from Gaza. Her criticism of Israel also caused a stir.
Youssef, a former cardiothoracic surgeon, has been living and working in the United States since around 2015.
