Egyptian Journalist Ridiculed Online For Asking DiCaprio ‘What About First Oscars For You?’

Egyptian journalist Shaimaa Abdel Moneim has been slammed online by social media users for asking Leonardo DiCaprio a horribly phrased and completely incomprehensible question at the 2016 Academy Awards ceremony.

Abdel Moneim, who was sent by the privately-owned Youm7 to cover the Oscars, sparked a wave of laughter in the room after she introduced herself as “first Egyptian journalist covering Oscars” and asked “What about first Oscar for you?”

“What about it?” asks DiCaprio.

“For your Oscar!” responds the reporter.

“Yeah it feels amazing,” responds DiCaprio, smiling and giggling.

“It’s the first! What about that?” says Abdel Moneim.

On social media, after video of the moment went viral, people criticized Youm7 for sending someone who does not speak English to cover the event.

In another video, the extent of Abdel Moneim’s struggle is revealed as she struggles to pronounce the names of actors, movies, and locations. Even worse, some people have pointed out how all footage, including photographs, at Hollywood appeared to be filmed with a selfie-stick.

“Egypt is full of people who speak English fluently,” said one social media user in a comment to Youm7.

“Why did you not give a chance to someone who could actually do it right and represent Egypt without dragging us into the dirt!”

Others said that the reporter was an embarrassment to all of Egypt, while some have said that Youm7 should publicly apologize and that it is Youm7, not the reporter, who should be blamed.

The ridicule Abdel Moneim is facing has extended to her being photoshopped in old videos alongside Leonardo DiCaprio. For example, one video shows DiCaprio slapping Abdel Moneim after she asks the question in broken English.

@Amir_G_Beshay @Cleobatta @Variety no one is criticising the accent. It’s the question itself. It’s a stupid question. Shows lack of prep.

— Captain Patchy Beard (@TheAhmedRaafat) March 1, 2016

However, some Egyptians have supported the young journalist, saying that foreigners would struggle to know a single word in Arabic.

Despite the controversy, Youm7 has stuck by the reporter and defended its decision to send Abdel Moneim to the Oscars.

In a public Facebook statement, Youm7’s Chief Editor Khaled Salah said that she was simply “confused” and that her voice was “not clear.”

“It’s very common and many celebrities get confused on stage,” wrote Salah on Facebook.

Abdel Moneim has not made any comments on the matter and continues to be ridiculed online for her gaffe.