The Take Why Mo Amer jokes to survive
Nov 7, 2025
Mo Amer, a Palestinian-American comedian and actor known for his Netflix special, shares his experiences using humor to address profound pain. He discusses maintaining his Palestinian identity despite industry pressures and the responsibility of comedians to speak on Gaza. Mo reflects on the fine line he walks with raw material and his personal storytelling, woven from his family's history. He also talks about the impact of honest narratives in changing perceptions and how meeting survivors fuels his passion for comedy.
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Comedy As Moral Observation
- Mo Amer uses comedy to process and call out public figures' silence amid atrocities.
- He frames jokes as observations that reflect what many are thinking about tone-deaf behavior.
Testing Raw Material In Small Pop-Ups
- Mo tested raw material in small Houston pop-ups to feel his community's pulse after October 7.
- He was surprised when many ticket buyers were angry white people loudly supporting Palestine at shows.
Detention Room Memory
- Mo wrote a detention center scene from lived experience entering the US with refugee travel documents.
- He recounts being grilled with "Do you speak English?" and keeps his travel document as a reminder.