This past weekend, Mona El-Beheiry made her latest appearance on the show, Arabs Got Talent. This normal Egyptian woman, who became internet famous last year for her poor English, made yet another statement in poor English, this time not only addressing Obama, but George Clooney and the Human Rights Watch as well.
Egyptians were angry and feel that it is really shameful how far satellite channels are willing to go for more viewership, well aware that it probably wasn't El-Beheiry who sought her appearance on the show. It is mostly likely speculated that the MBC and Arabs Got Talent teams were the one who invited her for this appearance, covering her accommodation and flights costs.
Minutes after her appearance, comments of dissent swept through the Egyptian social networks rather than mockery and sarcasm. And while El-Beheiry was the subject of commentary before, this time the Saudi channel MBC was the one under fire for its actions.
Receiving her first fifteen minutes of fame while Egypt was in the midst of political turmoil, El-Beheiry's original message was directed to Obama, requesting him to refrain from interfering with the Egyptian political situation. Her famous line was, “Shut ub your mouse (mouth) Obama.”
Videos like these spread like wildfire over Facebook:
(To avoid being as perplexed as I was, ex-afaxerz is external affairs.)
The reason why El-Beheiry’s appearance this time stirred controversy over laughter is because many saw that she is occupying a representative role which she has by no means earned. Whether in entertainment, intellectual, social or political spheres, many Egyptians have contributed to the positive and prestigious representation worthy of Egyptian women, and society as a whole.
It truly is mournful the depth to which channels will stoop for attention. We take a moment to grieve that, and the generation growing up to that quality of media... or lack thereof.