A comedy festival abroad is getting a lot of attention — but not for the jokes being told on stage.
Riyadh Comedy Festival, which began Friday and runs until Oct. 9, will feature performances by some of the biggest names in comedy, including Dave Chappelle, Louis C.K., and Kevin Hart, to name a few. What’s the issue? The showcase is taking place in the capital of Saudi Arabia, drawing backlash from comics and advocates for civil liberties alike.
Saudi Arabia has a concerning history of human rights issues: A 2023 report from the U.S. State Department notes that capital punishment is permitted under the law for “a range of nonviolent offenses” including adultery and “sorcery” (though the report notes that death sentences for such infractions were rare). It also points out instances of people who criticize the Saudi government being “disappeared,” including Yemeni human rights activist Samira al-Hour and graduate student Mohammed Matar al-Shalawi.
A recent report from Human Rights Watch states that the government has been “carrying out an unprecedented surge in executions in 2025” (241, as of early August), including 162 people executed for “nonlethal drug offenses.” You may also remember the 2018 killing of Washington Post columnist and journalist Jamal Khashoggi, which was carried out by members of the Saudi government (though the regime insists the crown prince had no involvement in the killing).
So what exactly is going on with this comedy controversy? Let’s get into the details.
Who is performing at Riyadh Comedy Festival?
The lineup includes some heavyweight names in the comedy community, including: Aziz Ansari, Wayne Brady, Hannibal Buress, Bill Burr, Jimmy Carr, Dave Chappelle, Louis C.K., Whitney Cummings, Pete Davidson, Chris Distefano, Zarna Garg, Kevin Hart, Gabriel Iglesias, Jim Jefferies, Jessica Kirson, Jo Koy, Sebastian Maniscalco, Sam Morril, Mark Normand, Russell Peters, Jeff Ross, Andrew Schulz, Tom Segura, and Chris Tucker.
Tim Dillon was originally scheduled to perform, but was fired after he joked about alleged slavery in the kingdom. Nimesh Patel also was initially booked, but dropped out. Patel said he was offered “a lot of money,” and remarked, “I’m not in a position to say no to life-changing money. But it wasn’t life-changing.” A number of comics, including Mike Birbiglia and Shane Gillis, reportedly turned down offers — one that, for Gillis, was “significant.”
So exactly how much money were they supposedly getting paid? Dillon said he was offered $375,000 (and said elsewhere that he tried to negotiate up to $500,000 but was turned town). He also claimed some of the bigger names were offered “millions.”
Riyadh festival criticism
The festival — and the comics who’ve agreed to take part in it — have come under fire, especially from other comics. In a blog post on his website, the comedian David Cross wrote, “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, “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).”
Cross wasn’t afraid to call other stand-ups out by name. “Dave and Louie and Bill, and Jim?” presumably referring to Chappelle, C.K., and Burr. He implores, “How can any of us take any of you seriously ever again? All of your bitching about ‘cancel culture’ and ‘freedom of speech’ and all that shit? Done. You don’t get to talk about it ever again.”
Marc Maron said in a clip posted to his social media, “The same guy that’s gonna pay them is the same guy that paid that guy to bone-saw Jamal Khashoggi and put him in a f–king suitcase.”
And it’s not only fellow performers pushing back against the comics who accepted the gig — rights groups are weighing in, too. In a news release, the Human Rights Watch said the festival is an attempt by the Saudi government “to deflect attention from its brutal repression of free speech and other pervasive human rights violations.”
“Comedians receiving hefty sums from Saudi authorities shouldn’t be silent on prohibited topics in Saudi like human rights or free speech,” said Joey Shea, Saudi Arabia researcher at Human Rights Watch. “Everyone performing in Riyadh should use this high-profile opportunity to call for the release of detained Saudi activists.”
Restrictions on speech
For those hoping that the performers booked would take the opportunity to speak truth to power against the Saudi government, details of the agreements sent to comedians seem to have put that idea to bed. Atsuko Okatsuka, who was offered a slot at the festival but turned it down, shared screenshots on Threads of communication her team had had with the organizers. One excerpt of the offer letter read,
“ARTIST shall not prepare or perform any material that may be considered to degrade, defame, or bring into public disrepute, contempt, scandal, embarrassment, or ridicule: A) The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, including its leadership, public figures, culture, or people; B) The Saudi royal family, legal system, or government, and; C) Any religion, religious tradition, religious figure, or religious practice.”
Bill Burr, Pete Davidson respond to backlash
Pete Davidson in particular has been criticized for taking the gig, since his father died in 9/11 — a tragedy for which the Saudi government has long faced allegations of complicity and even financial support. In fact, in August 2025, a judge in New York allowed families of 9/11 victims to sue Saudi Arabia, alleging that “the kingdom sponsored, aided and supported the al-Qaeda hijackers.”
Speaking in his own defense, Davidson appeared on Theo Von’s podcast and implied that his decision came down to the money: “I just know I get the routing, and then I see the number, and I go, ‘I’ll go.’”
Bill Burr recently recapped his trip to the Middle East and had only positive things to say. “It was great to experience that part of the world and to be a part of the first comedy festival over there in Saudi Arabia,” he remarked on his podcast. “The comedians that I’ve been talking to are saying, ‘Dude, you can feel [the audience] wanted it. They want to see real stand-up comedy’ … I think it’s going to lead to a lot of positive things.” He also said that the initial list of restrictions — in terms of the content of his set — was negotiated down to, essentially, “Don’t make fun of royals [and] religion.” He said the crowd was “extra friendly” — and that he performed many of his usual jokes.
Supporters of the festival have claimed that performing in countries notorious for human rights abuses or run by authoritarian regimes might provide representation of more-modern values to those areas. Jim Jefferies, a comedian booked on the festival, suggested the same during a podcast with Tim Dillon. “If you don’t agree with how they run their place,” he argued, “isn’t this a step in the right direction?”
