Jimmy Carr, Jack Whitehall and some of America’s biggest comedians are being criticised for performing at the inaugural Riyadh Comedy Festival in Saudi Arabia.
The state-sponsored event, which started on 26 September and runs until Thursday 9 October, features more than 50 comedians, including A-listers Dave Chappelle, Louis C.K., Kevin Hart, Bill Burr, Jessica Kirson, Aziz Ansari and Pete Davidson.
But why have fans and fellow comedians been so critical of their decision to participate?
Why is the festival controversial?
The Human Rights Watch (HRW) claims the Saudi government is using the festival to “deflect attention from its brutal repression of free speech and other pervasive human rights violations”.
Critics have called the festival “comedy washing” – a similar term to sports washing, where governments are accused of using entertainment to divert attention from human rights abuses.
The human rights records of Saudi Arabia have come under heavy scrutiny, particularly when it comes to prosecutions for freedom of speech, use of the death penalty and the rights of women and girls.
When criticised by the UN Human Rights Council last year, the kingdom said it had passed dozens of reforms to give its citizens more rights, in line with its “Vision 2030” plan to modernise its society under Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Mohammad bin Salman. Pic: AP
Saudi Arabia was for years among the most socially conservative nations, with a morality police enforcing a strict interpretation of Shariah, Islam’s strict legal system derived from the Quran.
But the country, which is set to host the 2034 FIFA World Cup, has used its wealth to invest heavily in sports, entertainment and tourism in recent years.
The Saudi regime insists its investment is aimed at transforming its social and economic landscape, rather than distracting from its human rights policies.
What have critics of the comedians said?
Some fans and fellow comedians have accused those participating – many of whom have previously advocated for free speech – of “selling out”.
Comedian and actor David Cross took to Instagram to say he was “disgusted, and deeply disappointed in this whole gross thing”, adding there was “not enough money for me to help these depraved, awful people put a ‘funny face’ on their crimes against humanity”.
David Cross. Pic: AP
Cross, who said he wasn’t asked to perform, added: “All of your bitching about ‘cancel culture’ and ‘freedom of speech’… done. You don’t get to talk about it ever again.”
Stand-up comedian Marc Maron, host of the “WTF” podcast, also criticised the comedians involved at a recent show.
He referenced Jamal Khashoggi, a journalist and prominent critic of the Saudi regime who was killed and dismembered by Saudi agents in an operation which US intelligence believe was ordered by Prince Mohammed bin Salman – an accusation he has denied.
The festival falls on the seventh anniversary of Khashoggi’s death.
Another comedian, Atsuko Okatsuka, posted screenshots on social media of what she said was her invite to the festival, including a section on “content restrictions”.
Atsuko Okatsuka. Pic: AP
The contract apparently prohibited the artists from performing material that “may be considered to degrade, defame, or bring into public disrepute, contempt, scandal, embarrassment, or ridicule” Saudi Arabia, its royal family or any religion.
“A lot of the ‘you can’t say anything anymore!’ comedians are doing the festival,” Okatsuka wrote. “They had to adhere to censorship rules about the types of jokes they can make.”
How much are the comedians being paid?
None of the comedians involved have commented on their contracts, but some who claim to have been invited to perform have shared some alleged details.
American comedian Tim Dillon claimed he accepted an offer to do one performance at the festival for $375,000 (£279,000).
He also claimed other comedians were offered as much as $1.6m (£1.2m).
Discussing why he accepted the offer on his podcast, he said: “Do I have issues with the policies towards freedom of speech? Of course I do, but I believe in my own financial wellbeing.
“They’re paying me enough money to look the other way,” he added.
In a follow-up podcast, Dillon said his performance had been cancelled because Saudi authorities were allegedly “unhappy” about his comedic remarks on the treatment of migrant workers and other human rights issues.
Fellow US comedian Shane Gillis said he turned down an invitation even after Saudi Arabia allegedly doubled its offer to him, saying he took a “principled stand”.
Shane Gillis, who said he turned down two offers to perform at the Saudi festival. Pic: AP
Have any comedians responded to criticism?
Several comedians have commented publicly on their decision to perform at the festival.
Louis C.K. told Bill Maher in an interview that he had “mixed feelings” about performing, but that they only had “two restrictions; their religion and their government, and I don’t have jokes about those two things”.
“I struggled about going once I heard what everybody was saying,” he added. “There’s some good in it, maybe some bad in it. But for me, I think it cuts toward going.”
On his podcast, Bill Burr said his experience in Saudi Arabia had been “mind-blowing”, that “everyone was happy” and that he felt the festival would “lead to a lot of positive things”.
American comedian Jessica Kirson released a statement after her performance in Riyadh on 29 September, in which she expressed “sincere regret for having performed under a government that continues to violate fundamental human rights”.
In the statement shared exclusively with The Hollywood Reporter, the comedian said she requested a “guarantee” from organisers in advance that she could be “openly out as a lesbian on stage and perform gay material”, in the hope it “could help LGBTQ+ people in Saudi Arabia feel seen and valued”.
“I am grateful that I was able to do precisely that – to my knowledge, I am the first openly gay comic to talk about it on stage in Saudi Arabia,” she added.
She also pledged to donate her fee for appearing to a human rights organisation.
In its announcement for the General Entertainment Authority, the Saudi Press Agency wrote: “The festival is the largest of its kind globally, bringing together a selection of award-winning comedy stars known for their outstanding performances on international stages and streaming platforms.
“It reflects the efforts to amplify Riyadh’s status as a leading destination for major cultural and artistic events.”
Sky News has contacted representatives of the performing comedians mentioned and the Saudi Embassy in the UK for comment.
