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Ramy Youssef and being Muslim on TV

Actor, writer, and comedian Ramy Youssef is having a moment. His TV show’s popularity is growing in the U.S. Abroad, critics are calling it “vital.” In “Ramy,” he plays a fictionalized version of himself — a young, Muslim-American man in New Jersey navigating life, relationships, and faith.

But Muslims aren’t a monolith and “Ramy” is just one new show dedicated to shattering stereotypes. Despite shows like “Mo,” “Ms. Marvel,” and “We Are Lady Parts,” Muslims are still underrepresented on screen.

A new report by the USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative found that Muslims only comprise 1 percent of characters in popular television series in the U.S., the U.K., Australia, and New Zealand. 

We talk to Ramy Youssef and discuss the state of Muslim representation on screen.

Copyright 2022 WAMU 88.5

Arfie Ghedi