Egyptian-American comedian and television host Bassem Youssef poses for a photo during an exclusive interview in Washington DC, USA, on February 15, 2023. (Photo by Celal Gunes/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Bassem Youssef deactivated his X-account on Monday, citing “security concerns” regarding his relatives as the reason for his decision to leave the social media platform.
When it became clear that Youssef’s account had seemingly disappeared without explanation, his fans accused X of “censoring” the Egyptian-American comedian for his outspoken pro-Palestinian views.
Supporters posted a screenshot of Youssef’s last tweet, in which he sharply denounced the equation of anti-Zionism with anti-Semitism and the targeted attacks on pro-Palestinian activists.
“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 scare people,” Youssef reportedly wrote on X, where he has over 11 million followers.
“It’s 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.”
Shortly after he posted that tweet, Youssef’s account disappeared. Users assumed that his account had been deleted because accounts on the social media platform of entrepreneur Elon Musk, who has repeatedly stressed his commitment to free speech, were seen as pro-Israel biased.
“Bassem Youssef’s @X account has been deleted! Where is freedom of speech, Elon Musk?” wrote Yemeni journalist Ahmad Algohbary in a post.
However, Youssef later clarified on Instagram on Monday that he had voluntarily deleted his account.
“No, my X account was not blocked by X and I do not want to falsely portray myself as a victim,” he wrote.
“Once the safety concerns about my loved ones are resolved, I may consider returning. I want to deal with the matter away from the media,” he added.
Youssef did not elaborate on what exactly led to his decision to leave the site.
Bassem Youssef’s last tweet before his account was suspended.https://t.co/iFjknvf0Zr https://t.co/EjnOan05qi pic.twitter.com/vkjj7HdQlC
— Ala’a (@byAlaaS) 19 August 2024
The Egyptian had previously issued a statement about the disappearance of his X account, which strongly suggests that a backlash against his pro-Palestinian activism played a role in his decision.
“How do you know you’re pissing off the Zionists? When they whine and moan and moan in your timeline and can’t do anything but raise the alarm… or use the word ‘anti-Semitic’ for everything because they have nothing else to say,” he wrote.
“Make someone else feel guilty. Your methods will become old and boring.”
Considered one of the most influential public figures in the MENA region of the world, Youssef is also known for his advocacy for Palestinian rights, particularly following the Israeli military offensive against Gaza, which has killed over 40,000 Palestinians since October 7.
Following his viral appearance on Piers Morgan’s show last October, Youssef gained further momentum with his outspoken criticism of Israel’s Palestinian policy.
The new Arab has asked Youssef and X for comment.
This article was updated on August 20, 2024 at 20:30 GMT to correct an earlier report that implied that X had deleted Youssef’s account.
