Ethan Klein hosted Mahdi from TLC’s 90 Day Fiancé on the H3 Podcast to discuss the reality star’s experiences living in Iran and to directly respond to commentary made by Anisa and her husband iDubbbz.
The segment centered on Mahdi’s firsthand accounts of life under Iranian censorship and repression. Mahdi described witnessing violence during protests, telling Klein that “my neighbor was shot in front of me for showing her hair during the protest.” He also detailed the bureaucratic censorship he faced while working as an English teacher in Iran.
According to Mahdi’s account on the podcast, he attempted to publish a book of English phrases and slang. The project required approval from a government ministry, which demanded he alter illustrations to comply with modesty regulations. The ministry reportedly insisted that a cartoon depiction of his wife—who Mahdi described as a blonde Christian—be changed to include a headscarf.
The interview also served as a direct response to previous remarks by iDubbbz and Anisa regarding Iran and Mahdi’s perspective. Based on how people talked about the segment, the couple had previously dismissed Mahdi’s concerns about family members still living in Iran, allegedly mocking him as an “ameriboo” who was overly pro-American.
Klein played clips of iDubbbz and Anisa’s commentary during the podcast, giving Mahdi the opportunity to address their statements directly. While the segment touched on this YouTube drama multiple times, Klein kept the focus primarily on Iran rather than letting internet creator disputes dominate the conversation.
Mahdi, who lives in the United States after appearing on 90 Day Fiancé, used the platform to describe what he characterized as the gap between Western internet discussions and the lived reality of Iranians under authoritarian rule. Viewers noted Mahdi came across as articulate in presenting an Iranian perspective on censorship and state control.
