- Cairo Egypt, 2003.
Yes.
That was the first time I ever saw Jon Stewart
on something called a television.
We didn't have Comedy Central there
and YouTube was not even invented
but every Arab home had CNN.
You see, after the first Iraq war
CNN functions as an early warning system to know
where America will strike us next.
And it was CNN when I first saw Jon Stewart.
It was the once a week global edition of 'The Daily Show'.
And honestly, I didn't really understand his jokes.
For someone like me living in the Middle East
I didn't understand who are Democrats,
what is a Republican?
And why is he so at Fox news?
But because of Jon, I became aware of political satire
and American messed up politics.
I had a dream to have a similar show in Egypt
but at that time it was almost impossible.
We had a president for 30 years
and in the Middle East that is a very short first term.
But Cairo Egypt 2011, the Arab Spring happened
and we had an opportunity.
I made a couple of YouTube videos channeling a
very cheap knockoff version of 'Daily Show'
and it went viral.
And before I knew it, I was on television
with a very small show.
On that day, I left medicine and because of that decision
many more patients are alive today.
People in Egypt loved the show; authority not so much.
And then during my show there was a warrant for my arrest.
I was interrogated for six hours
and they asked me straight up,
"Does Jon Stewart sponsor you?"
I said, that's ridiculous.
Everybody knows he's a cheap ****.
So,
(laughter from audience)
he keep Emmys in a box behind the door.
I went on his show in 2012
and after the show I told him, I'm gonna make you a promise.
I'm going to create the biggest political satire show
in the Middle East
with the first ever show with live audience
and I would love you to come.
And he made me a promise.
He's like I will come.
I had the most popular show in the Middle East
but there were also riots in the streets.
There were tear gas.
We had to smell it in every day
when we were doing the show in the theater.
And even the state department issued a warning
telling Americans not to go to Egypt,
but you came.
You fulfilled your promise.
Two weeks after that
the military seized power from the Islamist.
I called Jon. I said, I'm scared. I don't know what to do.
The new authority is too popular, too loved.
I'm scared people would turn against me
and I would lose my popularity.
So he said, well, you need to ask yourself,
you wanna do comedy or you wanna do something
that would last forever.
So, I went all the way. I pushed the envelope.
I spoke up and as expected, my show was canceled.
People turned against me.
I face lawsuits and defamation
and I had to escape from Egypt.
So **** you Jon.
(audience laughs)
Seriously, man.
Thanks for nothing buddy.
- I don't know what happened!
- I could have stayed and be a sellout, a very rich sellout.
You had to be an inspiration
But I'm glad I'm here to tell you I love you man.
You all talk about his impact
in America but you don't understand the impact
that he has outside of America.
Even in my region people learned about American politics
from you which I find it really pathetic but it's
it's like you don't understand the impact
that you have on so many people all around the world.
You are the source of everything.
You are the origin story of every one of us.
I am forever grateful
for CNN
because they introduced me to you.
Thank you man.