Bergen County native Ramy Youssef appeared in a Sesame Street video celebrating Arab American Heritage Month, and the clip spread across social media to millions of views.
Youssef opened by saying, “Salamu Alaykum, everyone. I’m Ramy Youssef,” before telling Elmo that “Salam means peace, and it’s a way to say hello in Arabic.” He then said, “Elmo and I are here to wish all of you a happy Arab American Heritage Month,” and added, “I’m so proud of my Arab heritage and I’m so happy to share this month with my fellow Arabs and Elmo.”
The exchange turned into a quick lesson on another Arabic word when Youssef explained that “habibi” means special friend. Elmo answered, “Happy Arab American Heritage Month, habibi. We love you.” Sesame Workshop wrote, “The word of the day is HABIBI! Happy #ArabAmericanHeritageMonth from Ramy Youssef, Elmo, and all of your friends on Sesame Street!”
The moment lands with extra weight because Youssef has spent years building work around Arab and Muslim identity. His show “Ramy” is loosely based on his experience growing up as a first-generation Muslim in North Jersey, and he won a Golden Globe for best actor in 2020 for the series. He also co-created “Mo” on Netflix and hosted Saturday Night Live in 2024, becoming the second Egyptian-American host after Rami Malek. His latest show, “#1 Happy Family USA,” premiered on Prime Video in April 2025.
That backdrop helps explain why the Sesame Street appearance traveled so fast. National Arab American Heritage Month was first recognized by the White House in April six years before the article, and the designation is meant to celebrate the history, culture and achievements of an estimated 3.7 million Americans of Arab ancestry. In a few lines, Youssef and Elmo turned that recognition into something plain and easy to share.
The video’s reach matters because it pushed that message into a mainstream family audience at a time when visibility still carries its own force. Youssef did not just appear in a nostalgic TV setting; he used it to say Arabic words out loud, define them simply and place Arab heritage in the middle of a children’s show built for repetition, memory and reach.