Bassem Youssef Admits He Called Hamas “Terrorists” to Deceive Western Audiences
The comedian tells Arabic-speaking audience he knowingly misled Piers Morgan viewers to maintain his platform and deliver broader anti-Israel message
Egyptian-American comedian Bassem Youssef has ignited fresh controversy after admitting in a recent Arabic-language interview that his condemnation of Hamas as a “terrorist group” during his viral October 2023 appearance on Piers Morgan Uncensored was a calculated strategy rather than his genuine opinion. The revelation has raised serious questions about Youssef’s credibility as a political commentator.
In the interview, Youssef explained that he called Hamas a terrorist group to ensure he could continue speaking freely and deliver his broader message about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. “He asked me if Hamas is a terrorist organization, so I said yes, closed the topic and moved on,” Youssef stated in Arabic, acknowledging the calculated nature of his response.
He noted that at the time of the October 31, 2023 interview — just weeks after the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel — the climate required such positioning: “Any attempt to defend Hamas or what happened on October 7 could lose you viewers in the middle who came wanting to understand the issue.” You Can watch the interview in Arabic with translation here from Brother Rachid on X:
Backlash from Arab World and Family Pressure
Youssef described intense backlash from the Arab world following his statement, revealing that his own family in Egypt faced social pressure, with his brother calling to say that friends of his daughters were asking about their uncle calling the resistance “terrorists.” The comedian acknowledged that many in the Arab world view Hamas as a resistance movement rather than a terrorist organization.
From Egyptian Satirist to Exile: Youssef’s Journey
Youssef was issued an arrest warrant in March 2013 in Egypt for insulting then-President Morsi, leading him to turn himself in wearing a Morsi hat in an act of defiance. After facing escalating legal threats and government pressure, he fled Egypt in 2014 and became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 2019.
Youssef originally rose to prominence during Egypt’s Arab Spring with his political satire show Al-Bernameg, which attracted 30 million weekly viewers—roughly a third of Egypt’s population. The groundbreaking program broke longstanding taboos in Egyptian television through its sharp criticism of government authority, earning Youssef comparisons to Jon Stewart and recognition on Time Magazine’s 2013 most influential people list.
Promoting Conspiracy Theories
In September 2024, Youssef promoted conspiracy theories linking the September 11 attacks to Israeli actions, writing that people spoke about “the lies Israel spread with October 7th to have an excuse for genocide” and suggesting parallels to “Iraq’s WMD hoax.” Analyst Kyle Orton characterized the post as promoting conspiracy theories connecting “the 7 October pogrom to 9/11 denialism.”
Youssef’s X (formerly Twitter) account was temporarily deactivated in August 2024 following posts containing what critics described as antisemitic content. During various media appearances, he has admitted to spreading false information, telling Piers Morgan that certain claims about Israeli responsibility were lies being spread intentionally “because it’s the internet and I’m a comedian” as a way to “stoke division and dismantle the United States.”
Ties to Egyptian Intelligence-Owned Media
Multiple Arabic news outlets reported in September 2025 that Youssef was poised to sign a contract with United Media Services (UMS), an Egyptian media company linked to the country’s General Intelligence Service. The Committee to Protect Journalists has documented that UMS is “owned and closely linked to Egypt’s General Intelligence Service,” raising questions about Youssef’s relationship with the intelligence apparatus of the country he fled.
Dan Burmawi, founder of Project Ex, criticized this arrangement, arguing it represents a pattern where individuals claim asylum, gain Western citizenship, then use their new passports as shields while traveling back to their origin countries and attacking the West.