Comedian and actor Paul Elia’s stand-up special “Good Son” is set be released on Watermelon+ in the wake of promotional restrictions he faced due to a brief mention of Donald Trump.
Originally only planned as a YouTube special that premiered on April 8th, the self-financed hour-long special features a Trump impression followed by a joke about his family’s support for the President. The inclusion limited the promotion of the special but, rather than edit the material, Elia chose to also release it on Watermelon+, where it will be available free to the public without a subscription.
“While I am hugely disappointed that Google decided to restrict my special from paid promotion, I am very proud to partner with Watermelon+, who have been very consistent in their mission of freedom of expression,” he said.
As per the description, “Good Son,” blending humor with personal storytelling, “explores what it means to balance cultural expectations with personal freedom. A first-generation Iraqi-Assyrian, Paul Elia delivers a sharp and hilarious hour of stand-up, navigating identity, family dynamics, and the challenge of forging an individual path while staying connected to one’s roots.”
“Comedy has always been a space where artists can reflect, critique, and challenge the world around them,” said Hamza Ali, co-founder of Watermelon Pictures. “We are very proud to host Paul’s work and we will always stand by our mandate to uplift artists whose voices are being stifled.”
An Iraqi-Assyrian artist from Detroit, Elis is one of very few Chaldean/Assyrian voices in Hollywood. His debut solo special, “Detroit Player,” released at the end of 202. He followed this up in 2025 with “LowKey Comedy Special,” an hour put together with Matt Rife, which taped at the Troubadour during Netflix Is a Joke Fest 2024.
Elia is currently a series regular on Prime Video/A24’s adult animated series “#1 Happy Family USA,” created by his longtime friend and collaborator Ramy Youssef, where he voices multiple characters. He also has a recurring role in Season 2 of BET+’s “Diarra from Detroit,” created by fellow Detroit native Diarra Kilpatrick.
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