Humanity Meets Humor in Ramy Youssef's More Feelings

Ramy Youssef’s new hour, More Feelings, starts with a joke from his opener—a decision that might not work for all specials, but that should happen more often. The highlighted portion of Steve Way’s performance is hilarious and utterly morbid, setting the tone for an hour that’s much darker than Youssef’s 2019 special Feelings. Even visually, the deep blue backdrop of New Jersey’s White Eagle Hall establishes a more somber mood than the golden, church-like interior of the Chicago Cultural Center where Feelings was taped. Don’t worry, though—there are plenty of laughs to be had as Youssef navigates us through humanity’s worst impulses.

Youssef’s personal life and the world at large have changed dramatically in the past five years—and I’m not just talking about his appearance in the Oscar-winning film Poor Things. Last we saw Youssef doing stand-up, he was regaling us with tales about trying to combat Islamophobia by sleeping with white women, or growing up in a house adorned with a photo of his father shaking Donald Trump’s hand. Now he’s sharing anecdotes about going to therapy with his wife and noting Joe Biden’s shortcomings as a president. Youssef is the constant here, though; he still possesses the same understated, soft-spoken comedic style, still jokes about his family and faith, still provides humble and humorous insight.

After Way’s More Feelings set, Youssef dives in talking about Israel’s mass murder of Palestinian people, noting that the show benefits Gazan charities. In a time when very few public figures are willing to vocally support Palestine, it’s a brave move. And yet, as a person witnessing the genocide over social media, how could he do otherwise?

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One of the most perceptive moments of More Feelings happens right at the top of the special. Youssef discusses the difficulty of doing a charity show, because inevitably someone isn’t happy about the cause you’ve chosen. A man reached out to the comedian disparaging him for not doing a show in aid of Pakistan during the devastating floods of 2022, and reflecting on this, Youssef says that “It’s hard to care about a flood when you’re dry.” And honestly, that pithy summation of human nature—our innate self-centeredness when all we need is empathy paired with action—is what makes Youssef such a brilliant writer.

Youssef’s 2019 special begins with the comic noting that he’s been thinking about “how we know what we know and how that affects the way we treat each other.” More Feelings follows that thematic thread, but with the wisdom and weight of the last five years upon him. Youssef acknowledges how our views are shaped the “programming” we’ve all had (including those of a one-time hook-up with a massive Israeli flag on her wall), explores the hypocrisy of Westerners that accuse Muslim cultures of misogyny, and analyzes the lies we tell both ourselves and others in order to move through the world. He isn’t self-righteous as he calls for peace, just as quick to poke fun at his own shortcomings as anyone else’s.

Throughout More Feelings, Youssef’s carefully paced, casually delivered jokes are the framework for his own clear-eyed observations. This isn’t just a comedy special, but a call to recognize and honor our shared humanity.

More Feelings debuts on Max on March 23.

Clare Martin is a cemetery enthusiast and Paste’s assistant comedy editor. Go harass her on Twitter @theclaremartin.

Humanity Meets Humor in Ramy Youssef’s More Feelings