Riyadh Comedy Festival Draws Criticism as Comedians Perform in Saudi Arabia
RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA – A comedy festival in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, featuring prominent American comedians, has sparked controversy and debate regarding the ethics of performing in a country with a widely criticized human rights record. The festival, which concluded December 21, 2023, included performances by Kevin Hart, Dave Chappelle, Bill Burr, Jeff Ross, and Gabriel Iglesias, among others.
The event drew scrutiny even before its commencement, with some comedians facing backlash for agreeing to participate. Bill Burr recounted an experience before his set, noting the eager reception from the audience, including diplomats, and his decision to test boundaries with a joke referencing “Gay gym,” despite internal hesitation. He described the joke as “murder[ing],” indicating a positive audience response.
Though, not all comedians followed through with their scheduled appearances. Nimesh Patel withdrew from the festival, publicly expressing frustration over lost income in a since-deleted TikTok video. “I’ll just do 40 shows that I had not planned on doing here in the perfectly clean, moral, above-everyone-else, united States of America-I’m tired just thinking about it-to make up for the lost bag,” Patel stated. He later attempted to offer a more nuanced explanation on Reddit.
Hart,Chappelle,ross,and Iglesias completed their performances and were honored with a place on a newly established “Wall of Fame” in Saudi Arabia,as reported by Arab News. Social media posts show Chappelle appearing to enjoy his time at the festival.
The festival’s occurrence has reignited discussions about the responsibilities of artists when performing in countries with questionable human rights records, and the potential for such events to be used for “sportswashing”-an attempt to improve a country’s reputation through hosting international events.
