Mo Amer: Palestinian star 'proud and hurt' after Netflix hit

Palestinian-American comedian Mo Amer, reflecting on his hit Netflix series inspired by his life experiences, finds himself grappling with two feelings: pride and pain. "It's hard to talk about it without touching on something deeply personal," he told the BBC's The Media Show.

Mo Amer is the lead actor in "Mo," a semi-autobiographical series where he plays Mo Najjar. In the show, Mo is a Palestinian refugee navigating a new environment, striving for U.S. citizenship amidst complex immigration procedures, all while trying to integrate his culture and language.

Creating a show so intimately linked to his own life has been "incredibly taxing" due to the "sheer amount of emotion" involved. "I'm incredibly proud of it. I poured my heart and soul into it, but it was also painful to make," Mo Amer stated.

The setting of the show's second season also presented challenges. The final episode depicts Mo returning to his family home in the West Bank for a visit, set on October 6, 2023. The following day, the Palestinian armed group Hamas launched an unprecedented cross-border attack on Israel, resulting in approximately 1,200 deaths and the abduction of over 250 people.

This triggered a large-scale Israeli military operation in Gaza, which, according to the Hamas-run health authorities, has resulted in the deaths of over 48,000 Palestinians, the majority of whom were civilians. Mo Amer stated that the plot deliberately avoided October 7. The show's tone is "comedic," and setting the episode after the attacks would have diverted viewers from the plot and characters.

Mo Amer said he wanted to consider the "larger context," and focusing on October 7 and its aftermath "almost implies that this is just starting." He was referring to the long history of the conflict. He also stated that there were practical considerations due to the time gap of over a year between filming and release. "It's a little scary to write something and then have all of this happen. Then what you wrote and created in the show may not matter."

The show has received generally positive reviews, and the finale deeply moved fans and Mo Amer himself. It documents Mo's character's journey with his family to the Israeli-occupied West Bank and their experiences living there. From his perspective, it showcases the complex daily issues Palestinians may face, such as increased scrutiny at checkpoints controlled by Israeli soldiers. Mo's character is also attacked with tear gas.

The West Bank is a territory located between Israel and the Jordan River, inhabited by approximately 3 million Palestinians and 500,000 Jewish settlers. Along with East Jerusalem and Gaza, it is widely regarded as part of the occupied Palestinian territories. Israel occupied these areas in the 1967 Middle East war and established settlements, which are considered illegal under international law. Israel disputes this. Palestinians claim these territories as land for a future independent state and want all settlements removed.

Mo Amer said, "I had so many people call me who were emotionally wrecked after watching the final episode, and they felt like the show meant so much to them." He also added that the people contacting him were "not just Palestinians." Mo Amer said that the final episode was initially 60 minutes long, "almost like we shot a film," before eventually being cut down to 39 minutes. He said he wanted to cover the "main thing," including how difficult life becomes for Palestinians once they enter the West Bank. "You're immediately not on vacation," he said. "You're literally on edge."

Mo Amer believes that the portrayal of Palestinians is generally limited in television and film, which means there is more pressure on his shoulders. He said, "There's a lot of [pressure] from fans… there are more outside voices telling me what I should and shouldn't say—both Palestinian and non-Palestinian." "You really have to put on blinders and focus on telling the story I know, and the story I've lived."

Mo Amer said he can't "get away" from being seen as a spokesperson for Palestinians, and he admits he feels "like public property now." He said, "I think everyone needs to manage their expectations. But I'm not shying away from it." "Those who agree with me or disagree with me… it's so important to keep the conversation going and communicate."

The ceasefire agreement in Gaza has brought some hope for an end to the fighting, but this hope also seems fragile, with concerns that the agreement may break down. Mo Amer said he "always hopes" things will get better. "I never lose hope. If you lose hope, then it becomes a very, very sad place when you lose hope."