Gad Elmaleh, the well-known French-Moroccan comedian, has been making headlines recently for his candid interviews and humorous revelations. A star of the stand-up scene, Elmaleh is currently promoting his new show, “Lui-même,” which picks up where his last tour left off. Scheduled to return to the stage on January 15, 2025, he shares both laughs and insights during his promotional interviews.
During his appearance on the French television program “Quelle époque!” hosted by Léa Salamé on December 21, 2024, Elmaleh opened up about his relationship with his parents. Despite being 53 years old and enjoying great success since the 1990s, he still finds himself telling little white lies to keep them from worrying. He humorously remarked, “Il y a un ‘prix parents’ et il y a un prix officiel,” explaining how he tends to play down his spending when talking to his parents to avoid their critiques.
This family bond reflects his upbringing, and it’s clear how much his parents, Régine and David, support his artistic endeavors. Such light-heartedness and personal anecdotes bring depth to his comedy, showing how he seamlessly integrates his family dynamics with his public persona.
Yet, the show didn’t dwell only on family. Elmaleh revealed another surprising twist during the interview: his unexpected encounter with Pope Francis after the 2022 World Cup. While discussing the event with Salamé, he recounts how he approached the pontiff and, perhaps naively, congratulated him on Argentina’s victory. “Comme il est argentin, je lui ai dit : 'Je voulais vous féliciter...'. C’est un peu naïf,” reminisced Elmaleh, who found himself talking about soccer with the Pope for twenty minutes—an experience utterly unexpected for the comedian.
It turned out to be quite humorous for Elmaleh, who jokingly admitted, “Moi je n’y connais rien en foot, je suis nul,” shedding light on his lack of football knowledge. Despite this, he listened as they discussed strategies and teams, including the impressive feats of the Moroccan team and the finals featuring France and Argentina.
Following the delightful recount of his conversation with the Pope, Elmaleh shared how he later connected with his friend, French footballer Olivier Giroud. He couldn't wait to tell Giroud about his unusual meeting with the Pope, saying, "Frérot, il m’arrive un truc de fou, je sors de chez le Pape..." highlighting the absurdity of the moment.
Elmaleh's charm lies not just in storytelling but also in his authenticity when addressing his romantic inclinations. The comedian elaborated on his self-identified sapiosexuality – being attracted to intelligence rather than physical traits. When Salamé asked about the term, Elmaleh explained, “C’est une attirance pour l’intellect, pour l’intelligence,” which sparked laughter and light banter among the other guests present. His humor remained intact as he wittily commented on Salamé’s own brilliance during the discussion.
The humorous atmosphere continued as fellow guest Redouane Bougheraba joked about Elmaleh possibly sliding onto Salamé's social media with playful innuendos, eliciting more laughter. Despite the playful teasing, the conversation provided genuine insight as Elmaleh reframed intelligence as the prime factor of attraction for him.
Gad Elmaleh’s blend of humor and heartfelt revelations during his recent interviews showcases his multi-faceted personality. Delving beyond the laughs, he shares stories of family ties, surprising encounters, and personal truths, enabling audiences to connect with him on multiple levels. A prominent figure who has maintained his roots and relationships, Elmaleh reinvents his comedic narrative with every stage return—a storytelling prowess matched by few.
With “Lui-même” on the horizon and the prospect of sharing more personal experiences with fans, it seems Gad Elmaleh is poised to keep audiences engaged through his unique combination of humor, honesty, and relatability. His recent interviews have underscored this sentiment as he navigates personal nuances with the same ease with which he delivers punchlines on stage.
