The Last Laugh

Whether she’s flying across the United States for comedy gigs, accompanied by her Scottish Fold cat Beyoncé, travelling to the Middle East to perform in English and Arabic or pushing for greater inclusivity for disabled performers and Arab comics, Maysoon Zayid is one hilarious tornado of an entertainer.

- Ann Marie McQueen

I first met Maysoon Zayid last year when she was performing shows at New York University Abu Dhabi and Ajman University. I had signed up for a comedy writing workshop in the capital and she made us all get up on stage and tell a joke within 10 minutes. Although I was terrified and wanted to flee, I figured if Maysoon – who wore a T-shirt that said “Angry Crip” – could do it all those years ago, then I could too.

The New Jersey, US-born Palestinian comic, activist, writer and actress, who was left with Cerebral Palsy after a botched delivery, has not stopped since earning more than 14 million views for her top-rated 2014 Ted Talk, “I’ve got 99 Problems… palsy is just one”.

“I had the privilege of doing my first-show ever in Australia and I got to open for Pitbull in Las Vegas,” she tells me. “I’ve been touring for the past 15 years and will continue to be on the road throughout 2018. I am also preparing for the New York Arab American Comedy Festival 15th Anniversary. I am so proud of this festival that I co-produced with Dean Obeidallah and I can't believe it's been so successful for so long.”