Rami Malek reveals alleged experience of racial profiling by police

Ramy Malek has shared the shocking story of possibly being singled out by the police because of his looks.

The Egyptian-American actor, whose parents immigrated to the United States from Cairo before he was born, revealed in a recent interview that he was once mistaken for a suspect in an alleged crime.

This isn't the first time Rami Malek has faced issues surrounding his heritage.

The Oscar-winning actor spoke about his harrowing experience with the Los Angeles Police Department.

“I was thrown on the hood of a (Los Angeles Police Department) cop car because someone had robbed a liquor store and stolen a woman's purse,” Malek said in the interview. The Guardian. “They said (the thief) was Latino and 'You fit the description.'

Malek described the physical discomfort of the encounter, recalling, “I remember how hot that engine was; they must have been racing and it almost burned my hands.

The actor added that his Caucasian friend stepped in to find out his origins, telling officers: “Actually, sir, he's Egyptian. Not Latin.”

Despite the seriousness of the situation, Malek noted that he laughed nervously while he was pinned against the car. “I remember laughing at the cop car and thinking, 'OK, this is a very unsafe situation.' I might end up in jail for something I didn't do.

Malek did not provide additional information about the time of the incident, nor did he elaborate in an interview. The Los Angeles Police Department has not released a statement addressing Malek's allegations.

Malek who won the Academy Award for portraying Queen frontman Freddie Mercury in “Bohemian Rhapsody” grew up in Los Angeles with his parents and twin brother Sami. As children of Egyptian immigrants, their Middle Eastern heritage was a defining part of their identity.

“It's hard enough to travel. Don't make it harder,” Malek shared in his interview The Guardianreflecting on the challenges he has faced in his search for his identity. “I started thinking, 'What's going on?' every time I tried to enter a country. There may be a moment these days. Then they say, 'No, it's the guy from 'Bohemian Rhapsody.' Let him through.''

Malek's sharp instincts were shaped by his upbringing in Sherman Oaks, Los Angeles, where he lived with his parents, Said and Nelly, and his siblings. His parents, who were Coptic Orthodox, immigrated to the United States in 1978 from Egypt. His older sister Jasmine is now an A&E doctor, while his twin brother Sami shared the family's early experiences as first-generation immigrants.

The family spoke Arabic at home, and Malek only learned English at the age of five or six. “I didn't speak English until I was five or six years old,” Malek said The Guardian. He humorously recalled Sami returning from visiting her aunt in Detroit with only two English words: “yes” and “no.” “It pissed me off that he was promoting this ability to be bilingual,” Malek joked.

Malek's house was lively and culturally rich. They lived in a modest two-bedroom apartment filled with banter, or “nakkit” in Arabic, and the enticing aromas of Egyptian cuisine. Malek's father, a butcher, taught the children how to cook meat properly. “Very young, we were brandishing knives until this happened…” he said, showing the scar between his thumb and forefinger.

Despite his global fame, Malek noted that the experience of otherness lingers. “I don't know how you ever got over that,” he admitted. “I'm what's called a 'white pass' but I have very different features and we definitely didn't fit.

Malek explained how his background shaped his perspective and intuition. “We just had an unusual way of feeling people. … I don't know if that's a blessing or a curse. Sometimes I find it harmful. You can't help it,” he said.

For Malek, his heritage continues to be both a challenge and a source of pride, influencing his life experiences and shaping his journey in Hollywood and beyond.