Entertainment
Abdul El-Sayed Has Heated Exchange With Sky News Reporter
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Published 11/4/2026 11:31:48 AM
Abdul El-Sayed Has Heated Exchange With Sky News Reporter
A Sky News reporter had a heated exchange with newly-elected Senator Abdul El-Sayed on the eve of his victory in the midterms.
In the clip, which quickly went viral, racking up over 8.8 million views on X, El-Sayed confronts Sky’s U.S. correspondent James Matthews, telling him he won’t answer his questions.
“Are you registered to vote in Michigan? Are you registered to vote?” El-Sayed asks the journalist, to which Matthews replies he is not.
“So why would I care to have a conversation with you? Just explain to me why would I care to have a conversation with you?” El-Sayed says.
When Matthews says that he is a journalist, El-Sayed responds: “You’re a journalist in the U.K. You know how many votes I want to get in the U.K.? Zero. I am never running for office in the U.K. So I absolutely do not care what you think or the questions you ask.”
Matthews then protests that U.S. elections matter “to the world” to which El-Sayed says: “Yes, and what are you in? What country are you in?” Matthews explains he’s based in the U.S. and has international viewers, prompting El-Sayed to reply: “Sky News is not viewed in the United States of America. It’s only viewed in the U.K.” When Matthews disagrees, the newly-elected Senator responds, “Like five people.”
The two men continuously talked over each other during the exchange, with El-Sayed twice putting his hands on Matthews shoulders and, at one point, clapping as he spoke to make his point.
The exchange concludes with El-Sayed saying: “I’ve answered all the questions. I’ve answered all the questions that I care to answers for viewers in the United Kingdom. So I’m asking you to please stop chasing me around, please.”
Matthews denies chasing him, responding: “Abdul, I’m not chasing you. I’m asking you questions.”
El-Sayed won the Michigan Senate race on Tuesday evening, beating out Republican Mike Rogers.
Matthews’ Sky News colleague Alex Crawford praised Matthews’ tenacity, writing on X: “Bravo to our colleague @jamesmatthewsky for always asking the pertinent question and putting into context just why what happens in Michigan – and America – doesn’t stay in Michigan. The election most certainly matters elsewhere – and non-voters have a significance of their own.”
Piers Morgan also opined on the clip, posting on the site: “Pathetic, and very patronising, by @AbdulElSayed. He should show more respect to the UK and one of our best journalists.”
Following the exchange on Tuesday, another video began circulating online, which Variety has now confirmed was filmed two months ago. In the clip, Matthews approaches El-Sayed as he steps out of a car and makes his way into a building.
Introducing himself, Matthews quickly lobs some questions at the politician, saying: “Donald Trump seems to think you’re a gift for the Republican Party, what do you say to that?” After initially declining to answer El-Sayed responds: “I’m a gift to the state of Michigan, God willing, and I hope to win the election.”
Matthews then asks: “And he says, if you’ll pardon the language, ‘You’re full of shit.’ What do you say to that?” to which El-Sayed replies: “At least I don’t let mine go in the middle of the Oval Office.”
A rep for Sky News told Variety: “We’re proud of our correspondent James Matthews, who was doing his job: covering the election campaign and asking straightforward questions on behalf of our audiences. The outcome of US elections has ramifications globally, including in the UK and across the 138 countries worldwide where millions of people consume Sky News.” Variety has reached out to reps for El-Sayed for comment.
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The Japan IP Market will be back in Cannes next May for a second straight year. The Cannes Film Market and TIFFCOM, the content market of the Tokyo International Film Festival, are again teaming up on the event, and the 2027 edition will run May 14-15.
The return was revealed at TIFFCOM in Tokyo, during a conference on how Japan can forge new international partnerships after its stint as Country of Honor in Cannes. Alexandra Zakharchenko, head of industry programs at the Cannes Film Market, was among the panelists.
“The success of Japan, Country of Honor showed what can happen when a focused national presence creates lasting opportunities for the industry. The Japan IP Market is one of those outcomes: a collaboration that extends beyond a single edition and gives Japanese intellectual properties greater access to international partners,” said Guillaume Esmiol, executive director of the Cannes Film Market. “I’m delighted that we are continuing this work with TIFFCOM to create more opportunities for rights holders to connect with international producers and partners, develop new adaptations and bring their stories to global audiences.”
The Japan IP Market first ran in May 2026, one of the initiatives tied to Japan’s turn as Country of Honor at the Cannes Film Market. It put Japanese rights holders in the same room as industry professionals from abroad via pitches, one-on-one meetings and industry discussions. Kadokawa, Shochiku and Toei Company were among the companies taking part. The speaker lineup included Fujimura Tetsu, executive producer of “One Piece” and founder and CEO of Filosophia, Inc.
“The Japan IP Market is about creating the right conditions for business opportunities between Japanese rights holders and international companies,” said Zakharchenko. “By bringing them together in Cannes, we can help turn growing interest in Japanese content into concrete adaptation deals and acquisitions, while fostering new collaboration opportunities.”
Shiina Yasushi, executive adviser at UNIJAPAN and CEO of TIFFCOM, said the partnership with the Cannes market plays an important role for Japan’s audiovisual industry. He described the Cannes market as the biggest market attached to any film festival in the world. “Meeting the international professionals who gather there and creating together with them is the key to nurturing Japanese IP into global content,” he said.
Ikeda Kaori, managing director of TIFFCOM, said the first edition had shown how keen producers and partners worldwide are on Japanese IP. “Through the continued partnership linking Cannes in May with the Tokyo IP Market in October, we are pleased to offer more professionals the opportunity to meet Japanese rights holders directly and discover the rich diversity of Japanese IP,” she said.
The 2027 roster of companies and the rest of the program will be unveiled in the months ahead.
