In addition to being known for his film appearances (Iron Man, You Don’t Mess With Zohan) and being a series regular on TBS sitcom Sullivan & Son, Ahmed Ahmed is an Egyptian-American stand up comedian known for his self-deprecating humor and observational comedy.
Being a person of color in the US (and a Muslim, on top of that) is no laughing matter, especially for people with career paths like Ahmed Ahmed. Ahead of his special show at Kuta Social Club this Saturday, he made time for a chat with Coconuts Bali in which he touched on being a minority, his comedy style, and, of course, his upcoming show.
This interview has been edited for clarity.
If our research is correct, you began pursuing acting and comedy more than 30 years ago. Have you always known that you were going to make it?
That is correct. I’ve been in the comedy business going on 30 years. To me it was never about making it or not making it. It was more about making a living by making people laugh. Alhamdulillah (Praise God), I’ve done well for myself.
Can you describe the nuance of being a person of color and a Muslim being in America in your industry? The good, the bad, and the ugly, and the fabulous, please.
The nuance of being a person of color in my industry in America has always been an uphill battle. Most Americans are uneducated and misunderstood of anything that has to do with something other than themselves so you can become a fearful territory for them. I’ve had people call 911 on me over a joke, hecklers, racists and even industry professionals, i.e. agents, managers, casting people and producers did not want to work with me or hire me because of my color. That said I feel like there is new ground on the rise since, at the end of the day, if you can make people laugh that’s all that matters.
In 2019, someone called 911 during your show because you made a slight reference to terrorism.I think it is interesting because at the time you said this never happened to you before. Do you mean never happened as a comedian? Perhaps there are other similar events that happened to you in real life because of your identity?
Yes, this is true. I did have somebody call 911 on me in Naples, Florida over a joke that I told in 2019. However I never referenced “terrorism“. The audience member simply heard what he wanted to hear and took what I said out of context. That said… I’ve never had anybody call 911 on me other than that. However, I have been detained, arrested and highly profiled because of my name after September 11. Being Muslim in America ain’t no joke!
As a performer who specialize in observational comedy, what are things you find amusing about Indonesia and Bali in particular? What kind of jokes do you want to emphasize here (i.e. what the audience in Bali should expect)?
It’s my first time performing in Indonesia and specifically Bali so I’m not quite sure what to expect. I will most likely watch the other comedians before me to see what is tracking and what’s not tracking. I always read the room first. Most of my material is self deprecating anyway so hopefully the audience will get what I’m talking about. I’m very much looking forward to the shows.
Do you often watch local comedians (especially openers) when you do shows abroad? Are you going to watch your openers here?
Yes, as I mentioned, I always watch the local comedians who perform in front of me so I can get a feel of what audience members are interested in laughing out or not. I look forward to checking them out.
What are the current topics that interest you the most and why?
Well, I just turned 53 years old… I’m still single and don’t have any kids so the dating life to me is funny. I’ve traveled around the world quite a bit so my worldly experiences seem to bring a lot of humor to the forefront.
Can you share with us your creative process and perhaps tips on newer/aspiring comedians?
Every comedian has a different creative process. Typically, observational stuff seems to always be funny. For me it’s all about my personal point of view and what I think is funny in my head. Then the risk of trying it on stage in front of a live audience is how you can measure whether it works or not. At the end of the day comedy is about taking risks.
Tomorrow at Kuta Social Club. Doors open at 6pm, show starts at 8pm. Get your tickets here. he special is presented by Mad About Comedy with the support of local performers from Punchline++.
