Some of the top comedians globally have gathered in Saudi Arabia for the Riyadh Comedy Festival, sparking controversy amid concerns over the host nation’s human rights record. The event, organized by the country’s General Entertainment Authority, boasts a lineup of renowned comedians such as Dave Chappelle, Louis C.K., Pete Davidson, Kevin Hart, and Russell Peters, promoting itself as the “world’s largest comedy festival” featuring over 50 standup “legends” from September 26 to October 9.
While some comedians like Marc Maron and Zach Woods made light-hearted remarks about the festival, others like Shane Gillis, Mike Birbiglia, and Stavros Halkias declined offers to perform in Riyadh. Human Rights Watch urged participating comedians to use their platform to advocate for the release of detained activists and journalists critical of the regime, warning that remaining silent would contribute to whitewashing the Saudi government’s reputation.
The festival faced scrutiny for imposing content restrictions on performers, prohibiting jokes that could disparage the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the royal family, or religious figures. Comedian Tim Dillon’s revelation of being paid to perform despite his criticisms of Saudi policies shed light on the financial motivations behind some comedians’ participation in the event.
The Riyadh Comedy Festival aligns with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s Vision 2030 initiative to diversify the country’s economy, showcasing Saudi Arabia as a cultural hub open to international events. However, critics argue that such high-profile entertainment events serve as a distraction from the country’s human rights abuses, facilitating a whitewashing strategy to improve its global image.
