Tareq Taylor was not prepared for all the reactions to the interview he did in TV4's "Efter fem" on September 8.
It's a shame for this government right now. Ulf Kristersson, if you see me: Be ashamed, said Tareq Taylor then.
He has received a lot of support on social media, but also a lot of criticism and outright threats. Many have questioned his motives.
But if you try to either belittle my level of knowledge or claim that I would be anti-Semitic or something else... If you can't argue on the issue itself, but have to resort to personal attacks... You know what, then I feel like I've won.
Right must be right
Taylor criticized the government for not wanting to call Israel's warfare in Gaza a genocide. Neither Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson (M) nor Deputy Prime Minister Ebba Busch (KD) has contacted him.
Why they haven't done so, that's for them to answer. If they're going to do it, it probably needs to happen publicly, says Taylor and continues:
But considering the time that has passed, there are really only two things I think: Either A, they don't have the courage, or B, they don't have the competence.
Tareq Taylor is focusing on the fact that the government, in his eyes, is cowardly and doesn't take its responsibility to fight for human rights in Gaza.
There are many times when you will be faced with decisions that are difficult to make due to diplomatic, economic or moral reasons. But right must be right. And the humanity that one claims to want to represent must come first. That's something you can't back down on.
"Solsidan"
Tareq Taylor is currently featured in "Solsidan" on TV4, where he plays an exaggerated and particularly nasty version of himself who lectures Fredrik Schiller (Johan Rheborg) in the sixth episode of the season.
I left and felt: "Good Lord, what the hell have I done?". If people think this is the real me, I'll get so much hate. But I hope that somewhere, people understand that this is a role being played.
Tareq Taylor comes to the Schiller couple's home to cook and teases Fredrik. He says he took inspiration for his "nasty self" from several self-absorbed Swedish chefs he has met.
There's more than one, I can say. But I won't mention any names, he says with a laugh.
"Solsidan" premieres on TV4 Play+ on October 1 and comes to TV4 on October 15.
