Netflix’s Funny AF With Kevin Hart introduced audiences to several rising stand-up comics, but one performer who quickly stood out during the competition was runner-up Usama Siddiquee.

Finishing in the No. 2 spot on the Kevin Hart-hosted comedy competition, Siddiquee steadily built momentum across the season with his high-energy performances, observational humor, and sharp storytelling. While comedian Ron Taylor ultimately took home the win, Siddiquee’s strong finish left many Netflix viewers curious about the comic behind some of the show’s standout moments.

And for Siddiquee, the Netflix recognition appears to be the payoff to years of grinding through stand-up clubs, rewriting jokes, and slowly building a name for himself in comedy.

But for viewers discovering him through Netflix, who exactly is Usama Siddiquee?

Usama Siddiquee is a Bangladeshi-American stand-up comedian, actor, and writer based in New York, though he originally grew up in Plano, Texas. Known for his energetic stage presence and observational comedy style, Siddiquee reportedly traces his love for comedy back to his school days, when a funny video he posted online unexpectedly gained attention and encouraged him to pursue stand-up more seriously.

His road to Funny AF With Kevin Hart was anything but overnight. Reflecting on his runner-up finish in an Instagram post, Siddiquee described stand-up as a constant grind involving endless rewriting, retooling, and long nights trying to perfect even a single joke.

“Stand up is a grind. Constant. Rewriting, retooling, long nights figuring out the cadence and construction of one single line...Runner-up never felt so good.” Siddiquee wrote while reflecting on his Netflix experience in his Instagram post. He also praised fellow contestants and winner Ron Taylor while thanking Netflix and Kevin Hart for the opportunity.

Hosted by Kevin Hart, Funny AF challenged comics to prove they had what it takes to become comedy’s next breakout name, with judges including Chelsea Handler, Keegan-Michael Key, and Kumail Nanjiani helping evaluate the contestants along the way.

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But Netflix is far from the first major platform to notice Siddiquee’s comedy.

Before reaching Netflix audiences, Usama Siddiquee had already started building a respectable comedy résumé. In 2024, he made his late-night debut on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, a milestone often considered a major breakthrough moment for stand-up comics.

More recently, Siddiquee released his debut half-hour comedy special on YouTube in March 2025 through Don’t Tell Comedy, continuing to grow his audience online while touring the stand-up circuit.

Outside comedy, Siddiquee has quietly built an acting career as well, appearing in Netflix’s Inventing Anna and Survival of the Thickest, alongside roles in HBO’s And Just Like That..., Awkwafina Is Nora from Queens, and FX’s Better Things.

With a Netflix spotlight now behind him and a summer/fall comedy tour already teased, Siddiquee’s second-place finish may end up feeling more like a beginning than a setback.

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Did Usama Siddiquee deserve the top spot on Funny AF With Kevin Hart? Let us know in the comments.