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Mocking any social class for ‘entertainment’ is not just tacky, it’s downright disrespectful. Case in point: Egyptian influencer Maryam El Haraky, who turned her birthday bash into a masterclass on what not to do.
While we feel sorry for what happened to Hassan Abdalla ‘Piso’ and wish him a quick recovery—and do not approve of weaponry in a social event—our main concern isn’t the brawl that broke out.
Instead, it’s the pervasive and blatant classism that was on full display.
Mocking any social class is completely unacceptable. It’s not just hurtful, it’s unnecessary. By caricaturing and ridiculing a group of people, Maryam El Haraky has shown a shocking lack of respect for their diversity and dignity.
Renting a villa in a neighborhood like the 5th Settlement and throwing a party that degrades and disrespects others is a clear sign that you need to check your privilege and basic ethics.
It’s almost impressive how much effort went into making sure every detail of Maryam El Haraky’s event dripped with disdain for a significant portion of the population. From the decorations and costumes to the entertainment, everything seemed meticulously curated to belittle and stereotype a certain group of people.
El Haraky’s party is a glaring reminder of the pervasive classism that still plagues Egypt.
Classism, the prejudice against or favoritism towards people of a particular social class, is a deeply ingrained issue affecting millions.
When supposed influential figures like El Haraky choose to mock and belittle those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds, it only reinforces harmful stereotypes and divisions. If there were an award for the most tone-deaf influencer move of the year, El Haraky would be a strong contender.
Maryam El Haraky’s birthday party was intended to be a celebration, but it ended up highlighting a serious issue that demands our attention.
The so-called “bee2a parties” and similar events need to be stopped. This isn’t an isolated incident. Previously, influencer Amr Rady had his engagement party with a similar theme, and countless others have hosted birthdays and social gatherings under the same guise.
Even during our office discussion about this issue, some of us realized we had participated in similar events without recognizing the problem at the time.
To anyone who says we don’t want to celebrate Egyptian culture—trust us, we do! But making a mockery in the name of celebration is not the way to do it. Let’s use this moment to reject classism in all its forms and work towards a society where compassion and understanding prevail.
This is not only about Maryam. It’s about understanding the difference between celebrating known traditions in our society and cultural appropriation. We all need to be aware of this concept and check ourselves.
I love this magazine! It keeps me up to date with all of Egypts news, which is something I cherish as an Egyptian living in the States. I was wondering though, are you guys looking for an editor/writer? I am a zealous writer and a passionate activist in my community. I would love to be an editor for your paper!