Marc Español
Cairo – Jul 17, 2026 – 18:07CEST
Ramadan tends to be associated with the fasting that most Muslims observe from dawn until sunset. For many, the essence of this ninth month of the Islamic calendar lies in spiritual reflection and a strengthening of community and family ties — often around a TV. And in many homes and cafes in North African countries, prank programs are an annual staple.
In Egypt, the star show of this genre, Ramez Level El Wahsh, has been presented since 2011 by Ramez Galal, who gets high ratings every year with frenetic and childish scenarios involving local, and sometimes global, celebrities. This year, the guest chosen for the first episode was the Egyptian actress Asmaa Galal, who faced a kind of gymkhana inspired by the popular South Korean dystopian series Squid Game.
The dynamics of the program followed a familiar format. Using a distorted voice, Ramez guided Galal first down a raised platform while a kind of mucous substance was hurled at her until she fell into a pool of spinning balls. From there, she was subjected to a ceiling of nails pressing down on her until she fled to another room, flooded with water, where the presenter, dressed as a bear, gave her a fright.
The episode would most likely have been quickly forgotten had it not been for its humiliating introduction. With his dyed orange hair and a sexist stance, Ramez presented Galal as an actress who had achieved stardom thanks to wearing “a pretty dress” and leggings, and “taking photos of herself at the gym.” He also blurted that her “body is not bad” and even referred to her as a “cat.”
After the shock had worn off, Galal announced her decision to take legal action against Ramez, believing parts of his presentation to exceed the limits of acceptable humor. Her legal team said he had included “phrases of harassment as well as physical and personal innuendos that offend respect and dignity.” They added that although the actress knew that it was an entertainment program, she had, in no way, approved that introduction.
Chain reaction
Galal’s lawsuit has stirred controversy. Other actresses said Ramez’s words were unacceptable, and a popular Egyptian cleric criticized the show for not respecting Egyptian social values or the sanctity of Ramadan. The government was asked to suspend the show while the National Council for Women condemned programs that undermine women’s dignity and perpetuate stereotypes.
This was far from being the first controversy involving Ramez, who triggers one each season. Back in 2013, a turbulent period for Egypt due to political instability, state repression, mass protests, and armed insurgency, Ramez mocked up a scenario whereby a busload of celebrities was stopped by militiamen who shot the driver.
The genre has a long tradition in the region, dating back to the 1980s in Egypt’s case, but initially it confined itself to harmless practical jokes played on unsuspecting passersby. In recent years, however, many of these programs, including in other countries such as Algeria and Tunisia, have been criticized for going too far, although they continue to be very popular.
Proof of Ramez’s popularity is the caliber of the stars he has had on as guests; for example, Antonio Banderas popped up 10 years ago. Under the pretext of attending a fictitious festival in Casablanca, Morocco, the program simulated a huge fire in the hotel where Banderas was staying. “I thought I was going to die in that room with a bunch of pretty girls,” Banderas said of the prank.
A year earlier, American socialite Paris Hilton was the focus of a prank involving the fake breakdown of a plane flying over Dubai. Subsequently, Hilton said she was considering filing a lawsuit. However, TMZ claimed to have obtained a document from the production company showing Hilton had voluntarily participated in the program and received almost $1 million for her trouble.
Ramez’s show was also in the news in 2018 for the sexual harassment of popular Egyptian actress Yasmine Sabri. In that instance, Ramez was accused of making inappropriate references and forcing physical contact with Sabri on several occasions.
Frustration
However, stars of Sabri’s stature have chosen to return to the program, knowing what they might be in for. Given its rather bad reviews and the objections of religious figures and institutions annoyed not only by the show’s content but by it being broadcast during Ramadan, this has led to a certain frustration.
Now, as a result of the controversy with Galal, comments on social media suggest that the best way to avoid such humiliations is for celebrities to boycott the program. But the money that changes hands and the audience ratings dictate that the show must go on.
Archived In
- Antonio Banderas
- Casablanca
- Paris Hilton
