Born to immigrant parents from Cairo, Egyptian actor Rami Malek sent out an important message after accepting his Best Actor award at the Oscars last night.
Malek in his acceptance speech expressed how he struggled with his identity as an Arab, despite being a first generation American
‘’I am the son of immigrants from Egypt, a first-generation American,” he told the audience as he collected his prize at Sunday’s ceremony in Los Angeles.
He continued to share his experience as a kid and how he struggled with his Middle Eastern background.
“I think when I grew up as a kid, part of me felt like I needed to shed some of that,” he said. “I didn’t feel like I fit in.”
Malek won the Oscar for his portrayal of Queen frontman Freddie Mercury, who was born in Tanzania. The actor praised Mercury’s story as that of a gay man and immigrant who “lived his life unapologetically”.
