Shane Gillis

Comedians Face Backlash Over Participation in Saudi⁢ Arabia’s Riyadh Comedy‌ Festival

Los Angeles, CA – A Saudi Arabian​ comedy festival⁢ is drawing criticism from comedians and human rights organizations alike, with Marc ⁢Maron leading the charge against fellow U.S. performers participating in ⁢the event. the festival,running from September 26 to ⁣October 9 in riyadh,has sparked debate over the ethics ‌of accepting⁣ substantial payments from a government accused of human rights abuses.

The controversy centers on the Saudi government’s alleged involvement in the September 11 ​attacks and the 2018 assassination of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.⁤ Human Rights‍ Watch has highlighted the​ situation, bringing ⁣attention to the financial incentives offered to comedians ⁢while together raising concerns about artistic freedom⁤ and ethical⁢ considerations. ⁣

On his WTF podcast, ⁢Maron​ sharply criticized colleagues ⁤accepting fees to⁣ perform, ⁣stating, “I mean, how do you even promote that? ‘From the folks that brought you 9/11. Two weeks of laughter in the desert, don’t miss it!'” He continued,⁤ “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 fucking suitcase. ​But don’t let that stop the yucks, it’s gonna be a good time!”

tim Dillon, a U.S. stand-up comedian and podcaster, openly admitted his initial ​motivation for participating ​was financial.In an August 30 ​podcast episode, Dillon revealed he ⁢was offered $375,000 for a single⁤ show on October 8, with other performers reportedly offered up to $1.6 million. “They bought comedy,”⁤ Dillon saeid. “Do ​I‍ have issues with ‍the policies towards freedom of speech? Of course ⁢I do, but I believe in my own financial​ well-being.” Though, Dillon⁣ later announced on September 20 that his performance was canceled after Saudi authorities reportedly objected to⁣ his comedic remarks‌ regarding the treatment of migrant workers and other human rights issues. “I ⁣addressed⁢ it in a funny ⁢way and they fired me,” he stated.

Shane Gillis, another U.S. comedian, claimed he declined a‌ lucrative offer to perform, stating on ⁤his Secret podcast, “I took a principled stand. You don’t 9/11 your friends.”

Human‍ Rights Watch also noted that Jimmy carr, co-headlining ⁣the festival‌ on October 6, ​has not publicly acknowledged his participation on his website or social media.

The ​Riyadh Comedy Festival’s lineup⁢ includes a number of​ prominent U.S. comedy stars, including Bill Burr, Kevin Hart, Pete Davidson, Russell Peters,⁢ Gabriel Iglesias, Dave Chappelle, and‍ Louis C.K. The ​event underscores a growing tension within the comedy world regarding the balance between ⁤artistic expression, ⁣financial gain, and ethical responsibility when engaging with governments with questionable human ⁤rights records.