Bassem Youssef's X account disappears

Tech

Published: 2024-08-20 14:03

Last Updated: 2024-08-20 14:12


Bassem Youssef (Photo: Jamie Biver)
Bassem Youssef (Photo: Jamie Biver)

Egyptian-American comedian Bassem Youssef had his X account vanish without explanation as of Tuesday.

Youssef, who had nearly 12 million followers, made headlines with his final post on the platform, in which he criticized the use of accusations of anti-Semitism to silence dissenting voices.

In his last post, Youssef stated, “Anti-Semitism was an accusation that used to freeze the blood on people’s veins. I see many people now realizing how this fear tactic is used to shutdown conversations and scare people.”

He continued, “It’s been overused and abused in order to intimidate people. Are you still scared to be called an antisemite by those Zionists? Vote and tell me in the comments. No, I don’t give a … anymore. Or: Yes I’m still scared.”

The abrupt disappearance of Youssef’s X account has left his followers and the public in the dark about the reasons behind the removal. As of this report, his Instagram account remains active.

Youssef's recent pro-Palestine activity stirred significant attention. Last October, his interview with British journalist Piers Morgan gained widespread traction.

In the interview, Youssef delivered a pointed critique of "Israel’s" actions in Gaza, a war that had just erupted. His commentary, which included humor and sharp analysis, resonated widely and sparked debate.