Youssef is an Egyptian comedian and television host.
He is best known for hosting El-Bernameg (The Show), a satirical Egyptian political news program, from 2011 to 2014.
Youssef has been compared to American comedian Jon Stewart, whose satire influenced his work.
Before his career in comedy, Youssef practiced as a cardiothoracic surgeon in Egypt for 13 years, having graduated from Cairo University’s Faculty of Medicine in 1998.
Bassem Youssef early life
Youssef was born on March 21, 1974, in Cairo, Egypt.
There is no information available about Youssef’s upbringing although he graduated from Cairo University’s Faculty of Medicine, majoring in cardiothoracic surgery, in 1998.
He obtained a doctorate in cardiothoracic surgery from Cairo University and is currently a faculty member at the Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University.
Youssef passed the United States Medical Licensing Examination and has been a member of the Royal College of Surgeons (MRCS) since February 2007.
He traveled to work in America and Europe for two and a half years in a medical device company that develops heart and lung transplant technology.
Bassem Youssef net worth
According to multiple sources, Youssef has an estimated net worth of $1.7 million.
Bassem Youssef career
Youssef graduated from Cairo University’s Faculty of Medicine, majoring in cardiothoracic surgery, in 1998.
He passed the United States Medical Licensing Examination and has been a member of the Royal College of Surgeons (MRCS) since February 2007.
He practiced as a cardiothoracic surgeon in Egypt for 13 years before moving into comedy and political satirism.
Youssef began his comedy career in 2011 during the Arab Spring.
He started filming political satire in his laundry room and posting it to YouTube.
He was funny and dangerous, and a big television network snapped him up and broadcast his show, The Programme.
At its peak, it had between 30 million and 40 million viewers each week, more than a third of Egypt’s entire population.
Youssef was dubbed ‘the Jon Stewart of Egypt’ and has been compared to the American comedian.
He has appeared on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart four times, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, and in 2013 was named one of the 100 most influential people in the world by TIME magazine.
Youssef’s current projects include Tickling Giants, The Democracy Handbook, and Revolution For Dummies.
He has also published a book, taken his one-man show on tour, and struck a deal with ABC to develop a sitcom about a Middle Eastern US family with superpowers.
Youssef ultimately fled Egypt and now lives with his wife and two young children in Los Angeles, where he’s starting a new American comedy career.
He has performed stand-up comedy in English and has appeared on various American TV shows.
Bassem Youssef vs Piers Morgan
Youssef appeared on Piers Morgan’s TV talk show, Piers Morgan Uncensored, to discuss the violence in Gaza.
During the interview, Youssef accused Piers of comparing Israel to the terror group ISIS, which Morgan denied.
Youssef’s satirical approach to the interview drew praise from social media users who called him ‘smart’ and ‘brilliant’.
Clips of the interview that have been shared on TikTok have amassed millions of views.
Youssef repeatedly used his trademarked dark satire to address the horrific violence in Gaza.
He referenced his Palestinian wife and Gazan in-laws when asked to give his opinion on the brutal Hamas terror attacks.
When Piers said he understood Youssef was ‘dark humor’ on the topic.
Youssef shot back: “No, it’s not dark humor. I really try to get her every time but she uses our kids as human shields!”
Piers pressed Youssef multiple times during the interview on the question of proportionality and what Israel’s response ought to be to the civilian massacres.
Youssef noted that the question is beside the point because Israel will kill as many ‘sons of bitches’ as it wants to since it can and because the conflict has never been proportionate.
Youssef’s comments during the interview have gone viral on social media in the two days since they were broadcast.
