Study: Middle Eastern Actors Ignored, Stereotyped by TV

Egyptian-American actor Rami Malek. (AFP)
Egyptian-American actor Rami Malek. (AFP)
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Study: Middle Eastern Actors Ignored, Stereotyped by TV

Egyptian-American actor Rami Malek. (AFP)
Egyptian-American actor Rami Malek. (AFP)

Actors and characters of Middle Eastern and North African descent are either ignored by TV or stereotyped, according to a new study.

The few such actors who get work are largely confined to playing tyrants and terrorists, said the university-funded study released Monday.

One percent of regularly seen TV series actors have roots in countries including Egypt, Turkey and Israel. But estimates show about 3 percent of the US population, 10 million people, are from the region, said the study's lead author, Biola University associate professor Nancy Wang Yuen.

Researchers who examined 242 scripted prime-time series on broadcast, cable and streaming during the 2015-16 season found that between 90 percent and 97 percent had no characters of Middle Eastern or North African ethnicity.

When those characters do appear, 78 percent are tyrants or trained terrorists, agents or soldiers, the study said. Most speak with obvious foreign accents.

Ninety percent of shows with such characters feature just one — with the now-ended "Tyrant," a drama set in the Middle East, among the exceptions.

The study warned that such depictions can contribute to the rise of anti-Muslim, anti-immigrant sentiment in American society.

Three instances were described as "exemplary" in the report: Iranian-American actress Necar Zadegan's portrayal of an attorney on Bravo's "Girlfriend's Guide to Divorce," the cyber-security engineer played by Egyptian-American (and Emmy-winning) actor Rami Malek on "Mr. Robot" and a tennis pro on Amazon's "Red Oaks" played by Turkish-American actor Ennis Esmer.

"His ethnicity doesn't define the role, and he gets to be a full person aside from that, and in fact because of that," Esmer said of his character in a statement.

The entertainment industry as a whole must seek change, the study said. It recommended steps including the hiring and mentoring of Middle East and North African actors, directors, executives and others.

The study cited the work of actress Azita Ghanizada, who founded an advocacy coalition that successfully lobbied Hollywood guilds to include Middle East and North African performers in casting data reports.

The study received funding from schools including Biola University in La Mirada, California; California State University Fullerton; and San Jose State University, along with CBS Entertainment Diversity.



Deals Signed for Hotel Development at King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah

The project will feature a dedicated fan zone, health and fitness clubs, swimming pools, international restaurants, retail outlets, athlete-specific facilities, and conference and event halls - SPA
The project will feature a dedicated fan zone, health and fitness clubs, swimming pools, international restaurants, retail outlets, athlete-specific facilities, and conference and event halls - SPA
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Deals Signed for Hotel Development at King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah

The project will feature a dedicated fan zone, health and fitness clubs, swimming pools, international restaurants, retail outlets, athlete-specific facilities, and conference and event halls - SPA
The project will feature a dedicated fan zone, health and fitness clubs, swimming pools, international restaurants, retail outlets, athlete-specific facilities, and conference and event halls - SPA

The Saudi Ministry of Sport has announced the signing of contracts with several local and international companies to manage, operate, and develop the construction of two hotels within King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah.

The project involves the construction of two world-class hotels built to the highest engineering standards, offering integrated services tailored to meet the needs of visitors, tourists, and sports delegations and supporting the Kingdom’s capacity to host major international sporting events, SPA reported.

Spanning approximately 16,000 square meters, the project will feature a dedicated fan zone, health and fitness clubs, swimming pools, international restaurants, retail outlets, athlete-specific facilities, and conference and event halls.

It is part of the ministry’s commitment to increasing private sector participation in the development of sports infrastructure and aligns with the broader objectives of Saudi Vision 2030 by fostering a modern, dynamic environment within the Kingdom’s sports cities.