Egypt's protests: 5 curious twists

Though Egyptian protesters went without basic necessities, rumors emerged that they were being compensated with Kentucky Fried Chicken.

(Image credit: Getty)

last updated 8 January 2015

For weeks, the world watched with rapt attention as the uprising in Egypt challenged and finally toppled the government of President Hosni Mubarak. As the main narrative unfolded, however, several curious and less widely documented stories were unfolding in and around Cairo's Tahrir Square. Here, five of the stranger aspects of the revolts:

1. Two demonstrators say "I do"

A young couple — Ahmed Zaafan, 29, and Ola Abdel Hamid, 22 — tied the knot on February 6, surrounded by tanks and thousands of their fellow demonstrators in Tahrir Square. The newlyweds said their choice of location signalled their determination to stay in the square until Mubarak caved. "These protesters are family now," said Zaafan, as quoted in Reuters. "Ola and I wanted to share our happiness with everyone."

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State television incorrectly reported that anti-Mubarak protesters were being paid $100 — and getting fed Kentucky Fried Chicken (a "Kentucky meal," as it's widely known in Egypt, can cost the typical worker a day's wages). The bogus rumors sparked suspicions that the uprising was being driven by Western interlopers. "I came to get the [Kentucky Fried Chicken] or the $100 but I can't find it," joked protester Khaled Badawy, as quoted in Turkish newspaper Hürriyet.

Many of the demonstrators tempered their anger with levity, carrying signs with messages like "De-Nile Not Only a River in Egypt." One protester sporting a "big afro" held a sign saying, "Mubarak, leave so I can go home and cut my hair." On Twitter, "Mubaraked" became a verb, as in, "I invited a friend round for dinner last night, but they didn't leave till 12 despite my yawns. They really Mubaraked.'"

A "bizarre" pamphlet circulating in Cairo suggested appropriate attire for the anti-Mubarak movement, including saucepan lids to serve as shields, goggles to protect against tear gas, and a rose to signal the intention to "join together in the most peaceful way possible," according to the Daily Mail. The pamphlet, called "How to protest intelligently: Important information and tactics," also suggested wearing thick rubber gloves and "shoes that make it easy to run away quickly."

Egyptian pop superstar Tamer Hosny was reduced to tears after demonstrators forced him out of Tahrir Square. Hosny — who the New York Daily News called "Egypt's answer to Justin Timberlake" — had publicly backed Mubarak. When Hosny showed up at the square to apologize, the crowd booed and shouted him down. The army reportedly had to fire warning shots to clear a path for Hosny to leave. "I want to die today," the singer later cried. "I thought I was saving the people."