Latest news with #MoAmer
CBC
28-07-2025
- Entertainment
- CBC
Mo Amer unpacks the pressure of being a Palestinian American comedian
Social Sharing Mo Amer should feel on top of the world right now. His semi-autobiographical TV series Mo is one of Netflix's most celebrated comedy dramas, and he's currently on a massive stand-up tour, with one stop in Toronto next week. But in an interview with Q 's Tom Power, Amer says his success is tempered by a pretty significant internal conflict. As a Palestinian American comedian with a major platform, he's had to think deeply about how to address the ongoing war in Gaza, particularly as he wrapped up writing Season 2 of Mo in late 2023. "I thought it would be a happy time — this is the worst time," Amer tells Power. "I'm the only Palestinian in the game. Everybody's coming at me left and right: 'What are you going to say? What are you going to do?' … [I'm] walking such an insane tightrope to fulfill this kind of show." WATCH | Mo Amer's full interview with Tom Power: For the latest season of Mo, Amer opted out of talking about the events on Oct. 7 by setting the finale to end on Oct. 6, 2023. "It's pressure from everything," he says. "From either side. It's not just the Palestinian side. It's easy for me to be Palestinian because I'm Palestinian. It's easy to tell a Palestinian story because I'm Palestinian. Now, you have to factor in, [does] the show exist in a post-October 7th world? And every time I explored that, it was like a death blow to the whole show…. So I refused. I said no." [I'm] walking such an insane tightrope. - Mo Amer Though Amer has gone to great lengths to make his work feel sincere, grounded and never inflammatory, he says walking that tightrope still feels "extremely dangerous" at times. "I'm Palestinian making a TV show in Hollywood," he tells Power. "What I did is very, very difficult to do. It's a story not just about Palestinians, but also it's an immigration story, it's Latinos, it's Houston, it's all these layers that you have to unpackage. You got to be careful how you put that story together." WATCH | Official trailer for Season 2 of Mo: But despite the increased pressure and scrutiny he's facing, Amer says it's all been worth it. After his stand-up shows, he's had emotional conversations with people of all different ages and backgrounds, some of whom are refugees who fled Gaza. "I'm talking to doctors that were on the ground in Gaza," he says. "I've met kids — amputee children — I've held them in my own arms. They've come to see my show and tell me they watched the show in Gaza. That is as rewarding as it gets…. So those are the kind of conversations I'm having. Everybody's like, 'Oh, you must be having a blast touring!' Don't get me wrong, being on stage is the best rest I get. Being on the actual stage is the best time that I have. Everything after that is just a ton of pain in the heart."
CairoScene
22-07-2025
- Entertainment
- CairoScene
Palestinian Comedian Mo Amer to Perform at Dubai Opera in October
Amer's set will be one of several performances scheduled during Dubai Comedy Festival. Jul 22, 2025 Palestinian-American comedian and writer Mo Amer is set to perform at Dubai Opera on Thursday, October 9th, as part of the Dubai Comedy Festival. Known for his sharp observational humour and storytelling focused on family and identity, Amer's set will be one of several performances scheduled during the festival, which runs from October 2nd to 12th. Presented by Live Nation Middle East, the festival will also feature comedians including Tom Segura, Akaash Singh, Joanne McNally, John Achkar, Amer Zahr, and Zakir Khan. Amer has received multiple awards for his work, including a Gotham Award and a Peabody Award, and is recognised for his appearances in the Netflix series 'Mo'. Tickets start at AED 295 and are available through PlatinumList's official website.
The National
21-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The National
Nadine Labaki, Hend Sabry and Mo Amer to speak at Congress of Arabic & Creative Industries in Abu Dhabi
Palestinian-American actor and comedian Mo Amer and Lebanese filmmaker Nadine Labaki will participate in this year's International Congress of Arabic & Creative Industries, taking place at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi on September 14 and 15. They will be joined by Tunisian actress Hend Sabry, and a number of other content creators, technologists and policymakers to discuss future opportunities and challenges in telling stories from the Arab world. Entry is free upon registration. Organised by the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre, part of the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, the congress will look at how artificial intelligence is reshaping regional creative industries with sessions focusing on how it enhances storytelling and audience development, preserves heritage and sparks new forms of creative entrepreneurship. Also part of the programme is a panel looking at how to maintain the appeal of Arabic language for future generations. Following core strands focusing on industry capacity building and a showcase of youth creative projects, the event will also feature exhibition stands and representatives from companies including Google, Meta, Snap Inc and TikTok. It will mark the return of the Innovation Awards – a competition encouraging students to pitch ideas to promote the Arabic language. 'This year's Congress of Arabic & Creative Industries marks a bold new chapter in our mission to position Arabic creativity at the forefront of global cultural discourse,' Ali bin Tamim, chairman of Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre, tells The National. 'By convening some of the most dynamic thinkers and creators from the region and beyond, we are not only redefining the narrative around Arabic culture, but also actively shaping the future of storytelling.' Launched in 2022, the congress has steadily expanded from its focus on publishing to include the state of the creative industries. Last year's event featured DCT Abu Dhabi chairman Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, who called for a renewed role for the creative sector in education. 'This is an investment of the mind when it comes to school curricula, when it comes to cultural programming in understanding what the Arab world has contributed,' he said. 'It is not just about the present and past, but also the future.' Al Mubarak highlighted the need for new Arabic cultural content to reach younger generations and stressed that the UAE's growing creative economy, which at the time of the event employed more than 400,000 people and contributed four per cent to the GDP, is already a key driver of that shift. Egyptian-American economist Mohamed El Erian, also present at last year's event, praised the UAE's investments in artificial intelligence as a tool for enhancing rather than replacing creativity. 'AI is going to impact every single person,' he said. 'But I see that AI will be less of a replacement and more of an enhancer.'
Web Release
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Web Release
The Outrageously Funny Mo Amer Returns to Dubai Comedy Festival 2025 for an Exclusive Two-Show Run at Dubai Opera
Comedy fans can expect even more hilarity during the upcoming Dubai Comedy Festival 2025 as the annual festival of funny has just added a major name to its already stacked lineup. Live Nation Middle East presents acclaimed Palestinian-American comedian and Netflix sensation Mo Amer, making his much-anticipated return to the festival with exclusive back-to-back shows at Dubai Opera on October 9th. Celebrated for his quick wit, compelling narratives, and candid take on fame, family, and identity, Mo Amer is set to bring back his much-loved humour to Dubai once again. Now in its fifth edition, Dubai Comedy Festival has cemented itself as a key event in the city's cultural calendar, bringing together comedy legends and global rising stars for a celebration of laughs across multiple languages and styles. Produced by BRAG and presented by Dubai Calendar, the festival runs from October 2nd to 12th across iconic venues including Dubai Opera and Coca-Cola Arena, and features performances in English, Arabic, Hindi, Russian, and French. This year's festival boasts a standout lineup with acts such as Tom Segura, Joanne McNally, Zakir Khan, Omid Djalili, Morgan Jay, Akaash Singh, and John Achkar already confirmed. Returning to Dubai Comedy Festival for the first time since his 2020 debut, Mo Amer's comeback marks a full-circle moment. Since then, the comedian's global stardom has only risen, thanks to his award-winning Netflix series MO, breakout roles in Ramy and Black Adam, and a string of acclaimed stand-up specials. With two back-to-back, intimate shows at Dubai Opera, a stark contrast to his usual arena gigs, audiences will get the rare chance to experience his comedy up close and personal. Known for blending his Palestinian roots with universal themes of fatherhood, fame, and identity, Mo Amer's comedy is both personal and political. His new material dives deep into his experience as a new dad, navigating life in the spotlight and the modern world with his trademark charm and brutal honesty. Amer's critically lauded show MO was named one of the best of 2022 by The New York Times and NY Magazine, earning a Gotham Award, Peabody, AFI Honors, and a Television Academy Honor. Season 2 of the semi-autobiographical series dropped on Netflix on January 30th to critical acclaim, making this Dubai appearance a timely treat for fans eager to catch him. With tickets expected to sell quickly, act fast by visiting today. When: Thursday, October 9th
FACT
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- FACT
Mo Amer returns to Dubai for a double dose of comedy
The Netflix sensation headlines Dubai Opera for two exclusive shows during Dubai Comedy Festival 2025. We have some news that is going to put a smile on your face. Palestinian-American comedian and Netflix favourite Mo Amer will return to the Dubai Comedy Festival for a one-night-only doubleheader at Dubai Opera on Thursday, 9 October 2025. It's a homecoming of sorts for the sharp-tongued stand-up, who made his Dubai debut at the very same festival in 2020. This time, he's bringing fresh material, deeper stories, and that signature swagger to two back-to-back shows in one of the city's most intimate venues. Mo Amer is no stranger to the spotlight. Since his last Dubai appearance, he's racked up starring credits in Black Adam alongside The Rock, Ramy on Hulu, and most notably, his semi-autobiographical Netflix series MO, a breakout hit that earned him a Gotham Award, a Peabody, and a place on The New York Times' Best Shows of 2022 list. The show's final season landed earlier this year to even more critical acclaim, offering fans a timely reminder of Amer's fusion of biting social commentary with razor-sharp humour. His latest stand-up material digs deep into themes of fatherhood, fame, and identity, with the same candid, culturally charged storytelling that has made him a household name. Expect brutally honest observations, unexpected tenderness, and explosive punchlines delivered with charisma and bite. Presented by Live Nation Middle East, Mo Amer joins a stellar lineup of international talent that includes Tom Segura, Zakir Khan, Joanne McNally, Omid Djalili, Morgan Jay, Akaash Singh, and John Achkar. Now in its fifth edition, the Dubai Comedy Festival has firmly established itself as a global stage for laughs, with performances across English, Arabic, Hindi, Russian, and French, making it one of the most inclusive comedy festivals in the region. Tickets to see Mo Amer live in Dubai are priced between AED 295 and AED 595. GO: Visit for tickets and more information.
