Standing out is nothing new for Rami Malek. But the Oscar-winning actor claims his ethnicity once put him in the crosshairs of Los Angeles police.
In an interview with the Guardian published on Saturday, Malek, who is of Egyptian descent, claimed he was racially profiled by the Los Angeles Police Department. The Bohemian Rhapsody star, 43, recalled an encounter he had with LAPD after he was allegedly mistaken for a crime suspect after a robbery.
He did not say when or where the alleged incident took place.
“Someone robbed a liquor store and stole a woman’s bag, and I was thrown onto the hood of an LAPD squad car. They (the robbers) were Latino and said, ‘You fit that description.’ ,” Malek said.
“I remember the engine being so hot. They must have been racing over there. My hands almost burned. My white friend was smart and said, ‘Actually, he’s Egyptian. He’s Latin. I remember laughing in the police car and thinking, “This is a very dangerous situation, and I could go to jail for something I didn’t do.”
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USA TODAY has reached out to Malek and representatives from the Los Angeles Police Department for additional information.
In conversations with British media, Malek reflected on his contradictory self-perceptions of race growing up in Sherman Oaks, Los Angeles with immigrant parents.
Regarding living in the United States, Malek said, “I wouldn’t say that I distanced myself from certain aspects of the culture, but there was also a clear feeling that I would never accept it. I don’t know how to get over that.” . It’s called ‘white passing’, but I have very distinctive characteristics, so we definitely weren’t a good fit. ”
‘I can’t stay silent’: Fantasia Barrino accuses Airbnb host of racial profiling
Malek also downplayed his own experience navigating racial tensions, poking fun at how his Egyptian name often gets noticed by airport security when he travels, saying, “I’m like, ‘What’s going on? ‘I started thinking,’ he said. These days, every time you try to enter a country, you might think, “Oh, that’s the guy from Bohemian Rhapsody.” Please let him pass. ”
Malek isn’t the only star to speak out about racial profiling. In December 2023, actress and singer Fantasia Barrino claimed on social media that she and her family were referred to Airbnb after the host allegedly asked them to leave their rental property.