How a Controversial Saudi Festival Has Divided the Comedy World

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A comedy festival in Saudi Arabia, funded by the government, is causing disagreement among comedians. Some are criticizing colleagues for taking large payments from a government accused of severely limiting freedom of expression and engaging in brutal repression. This has divided the comedy world.

The festival, which lasts for two weeks, will feature performances by many well-known comedians, such as Pete Davidson, Bill Burr, Aziz Ansari, Hannibal Buress, Dave Chappelle, Kevin Hart, Jessica Kirson and Andrew Schulz.

It’s been reported that performers received between $350,000 and $1.6 million for appearing, but one comedian shared an offer outlining restrictions. The payment is contingent on avoiding jokes that could defame Saudi Arabia, the Royal Family, its legal system, the government, or religion.

According to the Saudi government, this event supports its “Vision 2030” initiative. This plan aims to broaden the country’s economy beyond oil, investing in areas like sports, arts, and culture, while also bringing more socially open changes to Saudi Arabia.

However, over the last week, comedians have been publicly calling out their colleagues for seemingly ignoring the government’s serious abuses of human rights. They’re questioning why others are willing to overlook these violations, even if it means potentially jeopardizing their careers or future opportunities.

Comedian Marc Maron, host of the “WTF” podcast, made a joke during a stand-up routine posted on Instagram, saying, “From the folks that brought you 9/11, two weeks of laughter in the desert, don’t miss it,” while also referencing the death of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. The U.S. government has officially stated that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was responsible for Khashoggi’s murder. It’s important to note the sensitive nature of these references.

Maron went on to say, “Just so you know: I wasn’t invited to perform at the Riyadh Comedy Festival, which makes it pretty simple for me to criticize the situation. It’s easier to stick to your principles when nobody is trying to pay you to compromise them.”

Zach Woods, famous for his work on the show “The Office,” also voiced his disapproval of other comedians who agreed to the festival arrangement on social media.

Woods responded to criticism by saying, “There are many people complaining, calling us names, and saying we shouldn’t perform comedy there because it seems to support a government that, just last June, was responsible for the death of a journalist – Jamal Khashoggi.” He then countered with, “Honestly, stop. Name one comedian who hasn’t performed for a dictator for money.”

Comedian Shane Gillis, in contrast to Maron, stated he did receive an invitation to the festival, but he refused a large sum of money-an amount that was actually increased after his initial rejection. He explained on his podcast, “Matt and Shane’s Secret Podcast,” that he “took a principled stand. You don’t 9/11 your friends,” meaning he wouldn’t betray them.

So, here’s the deal: Tim Dillon was supposed to perform, but he claims the government pulled the plug on his set. Apparently, it all stems from a joke he made on his podcast, “The Tim Dillon Show”, earlier this month about accusations that the country uses forced labor. He says they fired him over that – pretty wild, right? It’s a bit of a free speech issue, and definitely adds an interesting layer to the event. You can find more details about the situation here.

Dillon mentioned on his podcast that he received a substantial payment-$375,000-simply to perform, and that he wasn’t concerned with the actions of those involved. He claimed this was a payment for not caring about what happened in their country. He also stated that some of the main performers were paid more than $1.5 million.

Making up the money

Comedian Nimesh Patel also announced on Instagram that he withdrew from the festival following the cancellation of Jimmy Kimmel’s show, which ignited a discussion about free speech in the United States. To offset the financial loss, Patel stated he’s booked a 40-date comedy tour.

“I’m adding 40 shows to my schedule-shows I hadn’t originally planned-all here in the United States of America, a country that prides itself on being clean, moral, and superior,” Patel wrote in his post. “I’m doing this to compensate for my lost bag,” he added.

Comedian Atsuko Okatsuka shared on social media that she declined an invitation to the festival. She posted a copy of her offer, which detailed limitations on the jokes comedians could tell – specifically, they were prohibited from criticizing the government.

“Many of the comedians who complain about not being able to say anything anymore are performing at the festival,” Okatsuka explained. “They were required to follow censorship guidelines regarding the content of their jokes.”

For many years, Saudi Arabia has faced criticism regarding how it treats journalists, restricts freedom of expression, and limits the rights and activities of women. These issues have been a long-standing concern. Specifically, the country’s record on these fronts has drawn international attention and disapproval.

‘White-washing’

According to Michael Page, the deputy director for the Middle East at Human Rights Watch, certain comedians participating in the festival aren’t just showing typical hypocrisy. He believes they’re going much further, to the point of discarding their fundamental principles altogether. He describes this as an abandonment of core beliefs.

According to TIME, Page noted that many well-known stand-up comedians frequently discuss free speech in their routines, often stating, ‘we have the right to offend, and we need to be able to say what we want without being cancelled.’ However, these same comedians are now performing at the Riyadh Comedy Festival in a country where free speech isn’t just restricted-it’s illegal, and journalists have even been executed for exercising it.

Page contends that these comedians are practicing “self-censoring,” a practice he identifies as a classic example of “white-washing.”

As a long-time cinema devotee, I was really disturbed to read a recent Human Rights Watch report about the comedy festival. It claims the Saudi Arabian government, led by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, actually put on the event specifically to distract everyone from their awful crackdown on free speech. The report really urged all the comedians performing to use their time on stage to speak out and ask Saudi Arabia to release the activists they’ve unjustly detained. It’s a tough situation, but it feels important that artists use their platform when they can.

Several of the comedians performing in Saudi Arabia have spoken out about free speech in the past. 

Burr has criticized what’s known as “cancel culture,” suggesting it’s driven by overly sensitive Millennials. Similarly, Chappelle has frequently discussed cancel culture; in fact, when he received the Mark Twain award in 2019, he delivered a powerful speech defending free speech.

He stated, “I’m not bothered by others expressing their opinions. I don’t see it as something to fight against; it actually improves my mood.”

I was struck by a comment he made about the Bill of Rights. He put it quite succinctly, really. He said the First Amendment is positioned first in the Constitution for a very good reason – it’s fundamental. And then, with a bit of wry humor, he added that the Second Amendment is there as a sort of backup plan, just in case the right to free speech – a right that, he pointed out, doesn’t exist in places like Saudi Arabia – ever gets compromised. It was a powerful way to highlight the importance of those foundational rights, and a pointed criticism of restrictions on free speech elsewhere.

In a press release about the festival, Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority called it “the largest of its kind globally,” and explained that it “reflects the efforts to amplify Riyadh’s status as a leading destination for major cultural and artistic events.”

TIME attempted to reach the comedians mentioned in this story for comment.

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2025-09-29 21:07