Some of America’s biggest-name comedians are receiving major backlash for participating in the “world’s largest comedy festival,” Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh Comedy Festival.
The roster of American comedians participating in the event, hosted by the government of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, includes household names such as Dave Chappelle, Kevin Hart, Bill Burr, Aziz Ansari, Louis C.K., Pete Davidson, Andrew Shultz and Jimmy Carr.
Celebrities, fans and other comedians have criticized participants in the comedy show because of the Saudi government’s alleged repression of human rights, including free speech, and its notorious alleged links to terrorism worldwide.
The nongovernmental organization Human Rights Watch posted a press release, accusing the comedy event of “whitewashing” the Middle Eastern country by covering up its “curtailing of civil and political rights.”
The event began on Sept. 26 and will run until Oct. 9, occurring during the seventh anniversary of the death of Jamal Khashoggi, a U..S-based journalist and critic of Saudi Arabia’s government. Strong evidence indicated that Khashoggi was murdered by agents of the Saudi government in 2018.
“The seventh anniversary of Jamal Khashoggi’s brutal murder is no laughing matter, and comedians receiving hefty sums from Saudi authorities shouldn’t be silent on prohibited topics in Saudi like human rights or free speech,” Joey Shea, a Saudi Arabia researcher at Human Rights Watch, said, per the press release. “Everyone performing in Riyadh should use this high-profile opportunity to call for the release of detained Saudi activists.”
Comedians against comedians
Comedians, including Shane Gillis, David Cross and Marc Maron, have all been outspoken against participating in the comedy event.
Gillis said that after initially turning down the offer to perform, the Saudi government “doubled the bag” to entice the comedian, but “I took a principled stand,” Gillis said on his podcast, “You don’t 9/11 your friends,” noting that even though the U.S. and Saudi Arabia are allies, and al-Qaeda, the group behind the 9/11 attacks is not a part of the Saudi state, the majority of the hijackers themselves were Saudi nationals.
Cross publicly expressed his disdain in a press release, stating he was “disgusted” by his fellow comedians’ agreement to participate.
“We can never again take seriously anything these comedians complain about (unless it’s complaining that we don’t support enough torture and mass executions of journalists and LGBQT peace activists here in the states, or that we don’t terrorize enough Americans by flying planes into our buildings),” he wrote. I mean that’s it; you have a funny bit about how you don’t like Yankee Candles or airport lounges? OK great, but you’re cool with murder and/or the public caning of women who were raped, and by having the audacity to be raped, were guilty of ‘engaging in adultery’? Got any bits on that?"
“I am disgusted, and deeply disappointed in this whole gross thing. That people I admire, with unarguable talent, would condone this totalitarian fiefdom for … what, a fourth house? A boat? More sneakers," he continued. “You’re performing for literally, the most oppressive regime on earth.”
Comedian Tim Dillon admitted on his show back in August that the payment was enough to turn a blind eye. “The house of Saud is paying us hundreds of thousands of dollars. Some of us millions, not me, but they’re paying millions of dollars to comedians. Get over it. We’re taking the money,” Dillon said.
“I‘m being paid a lot of money to not care about what they do in their country. I mean, it’s very simple. If you pay me lots of money, I will not comment on what’s going on. In fact, I will ignore it. And if something that I really disagree with is happening, the more money you pay me, the less I’m going to think about it,” he continued.
However, nearly a week later, he announced on his podcast that he was removed from the lineup after he joked about Saudi Arabia’s poor human rights record.
Comedian Marc Maron said, “It’s kind of easy for me to take the high road on this one” because he wasn’t offered to perform. “Easy to maintain your integrity when no one’s offering to buy it out.”
“How do you even promote that?” he said during a show, “From the folks that brought you 9/11, two weeks of laughter in the desert. Don’t miss it!”