Islamophobia or fun? Golden Globe winner Youssef suggests he was profiled during airport security check

Golden Globe winner Ramy Youssef videotapes his experience passing through Los Angeles Airport security with his Golden Globe Award carried in a special box as it passes through security, is opened and then wiped down. Afterwards, the TSA Agent jokes with Ramy posing with the award. Clearly it was all about humor as the TSA does not permit anyone to videotape the security process, but Youssef, who won the Award for his performance int he 10-episode hit Hulu series “Ramy” suggested it was because he has a “Muslim” Name.

By Ray Hanania

Golden Globe winner Ramy Youssef suggested he was profiled as a Muslim when his Golden Globe Award was searched by TSA security agents at Los Angeles Airport Tuesday.

Youssef, who won the Golden Globe Award during Sunday’s ceremonies for his performance in the 10-part Hulu comedy series “Ramy,” videotaped the TSA security check with his cell phone as he went through security and posted it on his Instagram account.

The incident suggested Youssef, 28, was being targeted because he was profiled as a Muslim, but the Golden Globe Award looked very suspicious when it passed through the X-Ray Machines.

Ramy Youssef passes through Los Angeles Airport Security Tuesday Jan. 7, 2020 with his Golden Globe Award. Photo from Ramy’s Instagram

At the end of the short video clip on Instagram, Youssef posted, “The ‘random’ checks you have to deal with when you have a Muslim name.”

But no one should mistake Youssef’s sharp impromptu humor as a serious complaint of Islamophobia.

In viewing the video, it is clear that the Golden Globe Award looked suspicious even though it was in a separate dark brown box with the words “Golden Globe Award” emblazoned in gold on the top of the box.

After passing through security, TSA officers opened the box and pulled out the Award and one female officer held it up and displayed it as Youssef videotaped with his cellphone.

When the female TSA agent picked up the Golden Globe Award from out of the box and held it up in air, Youssef asked, “Is that part of the test or what?” The TSA agent posed with Golden Globe Award like she had just won it and then proceeded to wipe the statuette down for security tests.

Youssef then playfully asked the agent, “You had to make sure. Did it pass?” while sharing a laugh with the TSA Agent.

Normally, passengers who go through security screening are not allowed to videotape or to use their cellphones. That suggests the TSA incident at LA Airport was less about Islamophobia and more about entertainment.

To view the video, visit Youssef’s Instagram account @Ramy.

https://www.instagram.com/ramy/

Ramy Youssef passes through Los Angeles Airport Security Tuesday Jan. 7, 2020 with his Golden Globe Award, notes being Muslim. Photo from Ramy’s Instagram

In “Ramy,” Youssef portrayed a first-generation Arab Muslim American who deals with the many stereotypes he has to face in America.

Youssef did not disappoint fans during his brief acceptance speech, remaining in his comedic role and carrying the stereotypes he tackled in his series to the live Golden Globe stage. Click here to read the story in the Arab News Newspaper.

“Allah-uh-Akhbar … This is thanks to God and Hulu,” Youssef said in accepting the award. “Most of you haven’t seen my show … This means a lot. Thank you.”

TSA Agent at Los Angeles Airport Security Jan. 7, 2020 poses with Ramy Youssef’s Golden Globe Award after it was x-rayed and then wiped down as is required procedure. Photo courtesy of Ramy Youssef’s Instagram

The Golden Globe Award as seen during the X-Ray at Los Angeles Airport Security Jan. 7, 2020. Photo courtesy of Ramy Youssef’s Instagram

“Ramy” was broadcast by Hulu as a 10-part streaming series in April 2019 and is scheduled for a second season later this Spring.

With episodes set in New Jersey and Cairo, where he visits relatives, the show hilariously portrays the humor and reality of being an Arab and Muslim in America. Much of the show’s focus is more on being Muslim and less on being Arab, a trend that reflects the reality of Arab American life in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.

The irreverent half-hour comedy series took on many of the stereotypes and challenges Muslims, and Arabs, face in America, from having to wash your feet before Masjid prayers and having sexual relations with non-Muslims while dealing with the concerns of his conservative and religious parents.

TSA Agent inspects X-Ray of Golden Globe Box before opening it. The Golden Globe Award looks suspicious for sure. Photo courtesy of Ramy Youssef’s Instagram

Ramy Youssef passes through Los Angeles Airport Security Tuesday Jan. 7, 2020 with his Golden Globe Award. Photo from Ramy’s Instagram

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rayhanania

Managing Writer at The Arab Daily News

RAY HANANIA — Columnist

Ray Hanania is an award winning political and humor columnist who analyzes American and Middle East politics, and life in general. He is an author of several books.

Hanania covered Chicago Politics and Chicago City Hall from 1976 through 1992. He began writing in 1975 publishing The Middle Eastern Voice newspaper in Chicago (1975-1977). He later published “The National Arab American Times” newspaper (2004-2007).

Hanania writes weekly columns on Middle East and American Arab issues as Special US Correspondent for the Arab News ArabNews.com, at TheArabDailyNews.com, and at SuburbanChicagoland.com. He has published weekly columns in the Jerusalem Post newspaper, YNetNews.com, Newsday, the Orlando Sentinel, Houston Chronical, and Arlington Heights Daily Herald.

Hanania is the recipient of four (4) Chicago Headline Club “Peter Lisagor Awards” for Column writing. In November 2006, he was named “Best Ethnic American Columnist” by the New American Media. In 2009, Hanania received the prestigious Sigma Delta Chi Award for Writing from the Society of Professional Journalists. He is the recipient of the MT Mehdi Courage in Journalism Award. He was honored for his writing skills with two (2) Chicago Stick-o-Type awards from the Chicago Newspaper Guild. In 1990, Hanania was nominated by the Chicago Sun-Times editors for a Pulitzer Prize for his four-part series on the Palestinian Intifada.

His writings have also been honored by two national Awards from ADC for his writing, and from the National Arab American Journalists Association.

Click here to send Ray Hanania email.

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