Egyptian actor Yasser Galal sparked a wave of ridicule on social media platforms after his statements during his honoring at the Oran International Film Festival in Algeria, when he recounted what he considered a story relayed to him by his father about the intervention of Algerian soldiers in Tahrir Square after the 1967 war to protect the Egyptian people, based on a rumor that Egypt would be subjected to acts of sabotage.
The story narrated by Galal portrays that Algerian President Houari Boumediene, who overthrew Ahmed Ben Bella in 1965, sent commando forces to Egypt, where the soldiers landed in Tahrir Square shouting: "Come behind us, do not be afraid, here we are to protect you from the enemies." Egyptians were quick to respond to the narrative, attacking Yasser Galal with satirical comments that considered what the actor said illogical and far from historical reality. Twitter users and commentators questioned the source of this story, confirming that there is no historical record or official document that confirms the occurrence of any Algerian military intervention on Egyptian soil during that period, which made the story a subject of ridicule and mockery. Some commented, saying: "If the actor's father really narrated it, then he must have been hallucinating or exaggerating in imagination," while others went to confirm that the narrative is closer to fabrication or lying, considering that the actor is just a fabricator who exaggerated in narrating the story in an inaccurate dramatic way. The incident reveals once again the importance of verifying historical narratives before circulating them, especially when they relate to sensitive events between countries, to avoid falling into the trap of fabricated news or myths that may affect personal and professional credibility. In the end, what Yasser Galal said remains a lesson about the necessity of relying on reliable and historical sources, and avoiding circulating stories that may turn into a subject of public ridicule and criticism.
