Arab content creators use dark humor to cope with Middle East conflicts

2 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Apr 29

Videos by creators like Lebanon’s Samer Moumneh on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube use gallows humor to address trauma from wars in Gaza, Iran, and Lebanon.
These comedic sketches, often referencing family dynamics and cultural norms, provide emotional relief amid ongoing violence and uncertainty across the region.
For over two years, escalating conflicts—including the Israel-Hamas war and Iran’s strikes—have driven creators to use macabre humor as a means of resilience and collective coping.

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