Moody Molavi became interested in comedy as a way to defend himself.
The stand-up comedian spent the early part of his life between homes in his native Iran and Chattanooga.
“I talk (in my stand-up act) about this transition of being that Iranian child with a thick accent trying to navigate a country where people dislike you for being Iranian and then another country –– where you’re from –– that disliked you for being American,” he said. “(I was) constantly fighting off bullies in either direction. And then, I found out I could make them laugh. If I kept them laughing, I wouldn’t have any negative stuff…