‘What are you anyway? You’re a bit brown: Blunt Miriam Margolyes leaves Australian talk show host speechless during Israel-Gaza ceasefire debate
Miriam Margolyes today left an Australian talk show host speechless after pointedly asking him “what are you, anyway?” as the pair discussed the war between Israel and Palestine.
Waleed Aly, host of Australian current affairs show The Project on Channel 10, found himself at a loss for words during today’s episode when the British-Australian actress derailed a discussion about Gaza with the out of the blue question.
Margolyes, who is Jewish, strongly called for an immediate ceasefire — a statement that seemed to resonate with the studio audience.
“Now a truce,” she demanded. “Whether you’re black or white, it doesn’t matter.”
She then turned to Aly and asked bluntly, “What are you anyway?” You’re a bit tan!’
Aly looked visibly surprised, but after a moment he lowered his head and chuckled.
Project presenter Waleed Aly found himself at a loss for words during Thursday’s episode, thanks to a cheeky series of questions from Miriam Margolyes (photo)
Waleed Aly, presenter of the Australian current affairs program ‘The Project’ on Channel 10, was at a loss for words
Aly looked visibly surprised, but a moment later he lowered his head, chuckling
“This is actually a very interesting question,” he replied. ‘I’ve thought about this a lot. I’m not kidding about that. I’m Egyptian.’
“Oh really,” Margolyes replied, causing the audience to laugh.
‘I love the Egyptian people. “I am on the side of the Palestinians,” she said.
‘I have to tell you that now. As Jews we must always say what we are. Are we for Israel or are we against Israel? I am only for humanity,” she added, before repeating: “Ceasefire.”
Aly is a seasoned journalist known for her in-depth and often complex conversations, and has a PhD in research into global terrorism.
Both his parents are Egyptian, but he was born and raised in Australia.
The veteran presenter light-heartedly acknowledged the unexpected twist after being caught off guard.
“Well, I think it’s safe to say the conversation didn’t go as predicted!” he said to a chuckling audience.
Never one to mince her words, Margolyes simply replied with characteristic bluntness, “What the heck. It is important!’
Margolyes’ appearance on the Channel 10 show was well received, with viewers taking to social media to praise her humor and calling for her to return to the show.