Hicham Haddad Under Fire for Mocking People with Disabilities

Have you ever found Hicham Haddad funny? You might want to recalibrate your sense of humor.

During a segment on his show Ktir Hal2ad on MTV, Lebanese comedian (we’re being generous) Hicham Haddad stumbled into controversy. In a desperate attempt at humor, Haddad compared his driver’s license photo to those on cards issued by the Ministry of Social Affairs for people with disabilities. The joke was not only distasteful but also grossly unfunny, revealing how out of touch his comedic sensibilities have become.

Parents of children with disabilities took to Twitter to rightfully shame Haddad for his insensitivity. One parent poignantly expressed the below:

Translating to: “The picture of my son on the card is ugly?! Do you know how much you hurt me when I heard this? And if I felt this way, imagine how someone who holds one of these card feels? I advise you to meet with one of the cardholders (and apologize to those who have them) and give them an hour of joy in their life because there are many hours of sadness! May God forgive you.”

Other parents also followed suit in sharing photos of their children’s cards:

Translation:

“The picture of my daughter, your son, and every cardholder…these are pictures of angels living among us, and they are the blessings of our lives…I, like you, and surely every mother and father of one of these angels, felt great hurt and were wounded by those words. But remember, this is God’s work, and bullying God’s work is wrong. Take pride in your child, may God protect him, and be proud…God has blessed you with a gift.”

In an era where we thought we were past this type of mockery, Haddad’s joke fell spectacularly flat. Making fun of a marginalized group is not only outdated but also harmful. Perhaps Haddad can turn this gaffe into a learning moment by extending an olive branch to the very community he inadvertently hurt.

Possibly just as offensive as his so-called joke is the fact that he is so grossly unfunny.