24. Riz Ahmed
Riz Ahmed, the Oscar-nominated British actor, has recently taken to social media to demystify the pronunciation of his name. He posted a video explaining that his first name is pronounced “Reez,” not “Riz,” and that his last name is pronounced “Ah-med,” not “A-mid.” This is not the first time that Ahmed has addressed the issue of his name’s pronunciation. In a 2017 interview with Stephen Colbert, he explained that his name is often mispronounced, and that he has been called everything from “Riz Ay-med” to “Riz Ah-me.”
Ahmed’s efforts to clarify the pronunciation of his name are important, as they help to promote cultural awareness and encourage others to respect diverse naming conventions. As a talented actor and artist, Riz Ahmed has made a name for himself in the entertainment industry, and he deserves to have his name pronounced correctly.