We all watched the video in shock as the Egyptian reporter Shaimaa Abdel Moneim told Leonardo DiCaprio when he won the Oscar last Monday, “I am the first Egyptian journalist covering the Oscars from here," followed up by, "and what about the first Oscar for you?"
Leonardo was so startled by that serious and deep question that he asked her to repeat it, which she did. He answered saying, "yeah, it feels amazing," with a bemused expression on his face while his director Alejandro Iñárritu broke into laughter, as did the rest of the audience.
Now that reporter made history; not because she was the first Egyptian reporter to cover the Oscars live from the Dolby Theatre, but because she asked the silliest question and gave the worst representation of Arab journalists. For that she wins the Oscar for Best Cringe-worthy Moment.
We hope our ears will never have to suffer again from hearing Arab journalists/reporters asking such questions, or any of the below ones as well.
Can you sing for us?
Why do Arab TV presenters or reporters feel compelled to ask their guests to sing? Not every celebrity can sing (although many of them are trying to). Unless the guests are actually singers, DON’T FORCE THEM TO SING!
What do you want to say to your dead parents?
I watched a certain TV presenter ask a celebrity guest what she would like to say to her dead mother and father if they were still alive. He kept asking her the same question for 10 minutes while she cried and repeatedly asked him to change the subject. Now, what is the point of such a personal question? And why do you invite guests to your show just to make them cry? Enough with the tears and drama!
What do you think of Islam? And the fact that Muslims are called "tourists?"
Once, I was covering a press conference in Dubai, in which Eva Longoria was a guest. I will never forget the moment an Arab reporter asked her in broken English: "What do you think of Islam and why are Muslims called 'tourists?'" (She actually meant "terrorists"). Poor Eva was taken aback by the bizarre question and had to give us a small lecture about religious tolerance and how she loved her Arab fans!
Don’t you think you are too old to play such roles?
In another equally amusing incident, I heard an Arab reporter asking actor Liam Neeson during a press conference for his movie "Taken 3": "Aren’t you old play such action roles?" Neeson smoothly responded: "I will keep doing them as long as they keep paying me to do them."
How much were you paid for that role/concert?
Arabs are known for many things, but financial transparency is not one of them ... So, don’t expect an Arab celebrity to tell you how much they were paid for a role or a concert. Moreover, don’t be the smart-ass reporter who tries to force them to answer that ridiculous question.