Rami Malek Reveals He Gets Racially Profiled As An Egyptian-American
Rami Malek Recently opened up about his experiences with racial profiling and how his Egyptian-American heritage has shaped his life.
In a candid interview with The Guardian, the actor, known for his Oscar-winning performance in Bohemian Rhapsody, shared a harrowing memory of being racially profiled by police in Los Angeles.
As he recounted, he was thrown against a police car in Los Angeles.
The incident occurred when the police responded to a report of a Latin man accused of stealing liquor and a woman’s bag. Unfortunately, Rami “fit the description.”
“I remember how hot that engine was,” Rami said, recalling the moment. “They must have been racing over theremand it was almost burning my hands.” Despite the seriousness of the situation, he found himself laughing nervously while pinned against the car. In his words: “I remember laughing on the cop car, thinking, ‘Okay, this is a very precarious situation. I may well be going to jail for something I’ve not done.'”
Fortunately, Rami’s friend stepped in to clarify that he is of Egyptian descent, not Latin. The actor said that racial profiling is something he’s encountered repeatedly, especially as a Middle Eastern man traveling through airports.
“While he often faced extra scrutiny, his fame has sometimes worked in his favor. “I started to think, ‘What is happening?’ Every time I tried to enter a country. These days, there might be a moment. Then they’ll go, ‘Nah, that’s the guy from Bohemian Rhapsody. Let him through,’” he recalled.
Rami also reflected on his upbringing in Sherman Oaks, Los Angeles, and the challenges of reconciling his Egyptian heritage with American culture. He didn’t speak English until he was five or six, and he described the fine balance his family maintained between embracing aspects of American life and staying connected to their roots.
Growing up, Rami and his brother developed a heightened awareness of their surroundings, a skill that remains ingrained in him to this day. Now, they can read situations carefully, and be hyper-conscious of where they stand in a room full of people.
This habit has even been noticed by those around him. Rami recalled how another actor recently described his ability to sense and assess a room’s energy. “They told my partner, Emma Corrin, ‘From the second Rami walks in the room, he’s assessing every single situation, how it will affect him or others, the domino effect of it all.’”
While this ability can be beneficial, Rami admitted it can sometimes feel overwhelming. “I don’t know if it’s a blessing or a curse. Sometimes I find it detrimental,” he shared.
