
Reviews Write New Review
Location
Booking Fee
Fee: $##,###Get Pricing
Virtual Fee: $##,###Get Pricing
[email protected]
Maysoon Zayid
Palestinian-American Actress, Writer, Comedian, Disability & Anti-Cyber Bullying Advocate
Maysoon Zayid is an actress, comedian, writer, and disability advocate. Of Palestinian descent, she is known as one of America's first Muslim women comedians and the first person ever to perform stand-up in Palestine and Jordan.
She is a graduate of and a Guest Comedian in Residence at Arizona State University. Zayid is the co-founder and co-executive producer of the New York Arab American Comedy Festival and The Muslim Funny Fest. She was a full-time On Air Contributor to "Countdown with Keith Olbermann" and a columnist for The Daily Beast. She has most recently appeared on Oprah Winfrey Network’s "In Deep Shift," "60 Minutes," and "ABC News." Zayid had the number one TED Talk of 2014 and was named 1 of 100 Women of 2015 by BBC.
As a professional comedian, Zayid has performed in top New York clubs and has toured extensively at home and abroad. She was a headliner on the Arabs Gone Wild Comedy Tour and The Muslims Are Coming Tour. Zayid appeared alongside Adam Sandler in You Don’t Mess with the the Zohan and has written for VICE. She walked in New York Fashion Week and is proud to be an ambassador for the Cerebral Palsy Foundation.
Zayid is currently developing a comedy series with Hazy Mills Productions called "If I Cancan." Zayid has said repeatedly that she wants to appear on the ABC daytime soap opera "General Hospital," and in June 2019 she debuted in the recurring role of Zahra Amir in the series.
Videos
Speech Topics
Arts and Conflict
Maysoon explores how to use comedy and theater to reach high-risk youth and teach them non-violent self-expression.
Growing Up Muslim in America
Maysoon shares her experiences of growing up Muslim in a country that is afraid of Muslims and growing up American in a family that's afraid of Americans.
Survival of the Unfittest
Maysoon talks about living with, rather than suffering from, disabilities and how to best use something people expect will hold you back to excel.
News
Related Speakers View all
![]() |
Erin Brockovich
Consumer Advocate, Author, TV Host & Environmental A...
|
![]() |
Melissa Stockwell
First Lieutenant (Retired) & Three-Time Paratriathlo...
|
![]() |
Laurie Hernandez
Olympic Gold Medal Winning U.S. Gymnast & Winner of ...
|
![]() |
Joan Lunden
Award-Winning Journalist, Best-Selling Author, Healt...
|
![]() |
Amy Purdy
Former "Dancing with the Stars" Contestant & Paralym...
|
|
J.R. Martinez
Actor, Best-Selling Author, Motivational Speaker, Ad...
|
![]() |
Nikki Giovanni
Poet, Educator & Best-Selling Author
|
![]() |
Shiza Shahid
Entrepreneur, Technologist, Investor, Impact Leader ...
|
![]() |
Jessica Cox
World's First Armless Pilot & First Armless Black-Be...
|
![]() |
Jackie Joyner-Kersee
Olympic Legend, Philanthropist, American Record-Hold...
|
![]() |
Ginger Zee
Chief Meteorologist for ABC News, Author & Mental He...
|
![]() |
Vernice "FlyGirl" Armour
America’s First Black Female Combat Pilot, Former Ma...
|
![]() |
Carey Lohrenz
First Female F-14 Fighter Pilot in the U.S. Navy, T...
|
![]() |
Kimberly Bryant
Founder and CEO Ascend Ventures | Founder Black Girl...
|
![]() |
Bethany Hamilton
Professional Surfer & Shark Attack Survivor; Inspira...
|
![]() |
Col. Nicole Malachowski, USAF (Ret.)
Combat Veteran, First Female Thunderbird Pilot, Whit...
|
![]() |
Keke Palmer
Actress & Youngest Talk Show Host in TV History
|
![]() |
Randi Zuckerberg
CEO & Founder of Zuckerberg Media; Bestselling Autho...
|
![]() |
Jacqueline Novogratz
Founder & CEO of Acumen Fund
|
![]() |
Dominique Dawes
Olympic Gold Medal-Winning Gymnast, Former Co-Chair ...
|