Episode description

On this week’s special LIVE episode of ‘We’re Not Kidding,’ filmed in front of a studio audience in the Washington DC area, Mehdi is joined by activist, influencer and fashion designer Alana Hadid, who has been one of the most vocal advocates for the people of Gaza over the past nine months. Alana’s family is arguably the most famous Palestinian family on Earth, and the Hadids have received a ton of backlash - and a lot of threats - due to their outspoken criticisms of Israel’s genocidal campaign.

Mehdi and Alana, who is also creative director for Watermelon Pictures, discuss her family’s history of being displaced from Palestine in 1948, the double-edged sword of speaking out on a massive social media platform, the experience of losing friends since October 7th, and why ‘hope’ shouldn’t be confused with ‘optimism.’ They also take live questions from Zeteo paid subscribers who were invited to the taping! 

“If you have to defend me, you’re in the wrong room,” a defiant Alana tells Mehdi.

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FIND MEHDI:

Substack: https://substack.com/@mehdirhasan

Twitter: https://twitter.com/@mehdirhasanInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/@mehdirhasan

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mehdirhasan

FIND ALANA:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lanzybear/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@alanahadid?lang=en

Watermelon Pictures: https://www.watermelonpictures.com/

CREDITS:

Hosted by: Mehdi Hasan

Guest Host: Alana Hadid

Executive Producer: Kiran Alvi

Producer and Editor: Frank Cappello

Music: Andy Clausen

Design: Alicia Tatone

Special thanks to: Lara Strydom and Mohammed Abdelbary