Reflecting on the Netflix hit inspired by his life, Palestinian comedian Mo Amer is filled with both pride and pain.
“It’s very difficult to talk about without breaking down at some point,” he shares, acknowledging the emotional toll of telling his story.
Amer stars as Mo Najjar in Mo, a semi-autobiographical series that follows a Palestinian refugee navigating the complexities of life in the U.S. while striving for citizenship.
The journey is filled with cultural clashes, language barriers, and the weight of an intricate immigration process.
Bringing this deeply personal story to life was emotionally draining for Amer, who describes it as “very taxing” due to the overwhelming emotions involved.
“I’m extremely proud of it. I put my soul into it, and I’m still hurting from making it,” he admits.
One of the show’s biggest challenges was deciding when to set the second season.
The final episode takes place on October 6, 2023—one day before Hamas launched an unprecedented attack on Israel, triggering a devastating conflict.
Since then, thousands of lives have been lost in Gaza, most of them civilians, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. Amer says avoiding October 7 in the storyline was intentional.
The show, at its core, is a comedy, and shifting focus to the attack and its aftermath would have overshadowed the characters and their emotional journeys.
He also wanted to emphasize the broader historical context, rather than imply that the conflict began with recent events. “That couldn’t be further from the truth,” he states.
Beyond storytelling, practical considerations also played a role.
The gap between filming and release made it risky to cover rapidly unfolding events, as what was written could quickly become outdated.
Despite these challenges, the show has been widely praised, with the finale striking an emotional chord with viewers.
It portrays Mo’s journey to the Israeli-occupied West Bank, offering a glimpse into the daily struggles Palestinians face, including heightened security checks and military presence.
Mo’s character even experiences being tear-gassed.
The episode sheds light on the realities of life in the West Bank, home to millions of Palestinians and hundreds of thousands of Jewish settlers, a region at the heart of the long-standing Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Amer has received an outpouring of reactions from fans, many of whom were deeply moved by the finale.
“I’ve gotten so many calls from people just completely in shambles after watching the last episode,” he reveals.
The original cut of the episode was an hour long, almost like a movie, before being edited down to 39 minutes.
He made sure to highlight key moments, including the difficulties of entering and living in the Palestinian territories.
“You’re not on vacation. You’re on edge,” he explains.
As one of the few Palestinian voices in mainstream media, Amer feels immense pressure.
“There’s a lot of [pressure] from the fans… more outside voices of what I should say and not say—both Palestinian and non-Palestinian,” he says.
While he remains focused on telling his truth, he acknowledges the challenge of being seen as a spokesperson for an entire community. “I feel like public property at this point,” he admits.
Despite the weight of expectations, he embraces the conversation. “Those that agree with me or disagree with me… it’s important to continue the dialogue.”
With the fragile ceasefire agreement in Gaza offering a glimmer of hope, Amer remains optimistic about the future.
“I never lose hope,” he says. “If you do, then it becomes a really, really sad place whenever you’re devoid of hope.”
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