Comedy festival in Saudi Arabia Sparks Controversy

A comedy festival in the capital of Saudi Arabia has become a cultural flash point as major comedians face criticism for accepting seemingly lucrative deals to perform in a country that was virtually impossible to visit until 2019 and a pariah in much of the West for its human rights record.

The riyadh Comedy Festival, which began Friday and runs thru Oct. 9, features a variety of big names such as Dave Chappelle, Kevin Hart, Aziz Ansari, Pete Davidson, Andrew Schulz, Jo Koy, Bill Burr, Jessica Kirson, Jimmy Carr and Louis C.K.

These comedians, most of them American, are now encountering resistance from some fans, human rights advocates and fellow comics in the industry.

Marc Maron, host of the “WTF” podcast, blasted the festival in a recent stand-up clip, joking that it was easy for him to “take the high road on this one” considering he was not invited to perform.

“I mean,how do you even promote that?” Maron said. “Like, ‘From the folks that brought you 9/11, two weeks of laughter in the desert. Don’t miss it.’ I mean, 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—ing suitcase.”

The Saudi Embassy in Washington, D.C., declined to comment. Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority, which announced the festival in July, did not instantly respond to a request for comment.

“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,” the Saudi Press Agency wrote in its declaration for the General Entertainment Authority. “It reflects the efforts to amplify Riyadh’s status as a leading destination for major cultural and artistic events.”

Saudi arabia, the oil-rich home of Islam’s two holiest sites, was for years among the most socially conservative nations on Earth with a morality police enforcing a strict interpretation of Shariah. in recent years under the rule of de facto leader Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the country expanded its cultural and political influence by diversifying its economy and investing in sports, entertainment and tourism to improve its global image. along with this, the crown prince oversaw a sweeping crackdown on dissent – imprisoning disgruntled royals, women’s rights advocates, and reforming clerics as well as adherents to previously government-sanctioned proponents of strict Wahhabi Islam.

Celebrities and influencers have often been criticized for performing in Saudi Arabia despite its human rights record, a practice known as “sportswashing” or “artwashing.”

Inside the saudi-Backed Festival That Drew Criticism and Controversy

A Saudi-backed music and arts festival in the desert outside of Los Angeles sparked protests and accusations of “sportswashing” this month, highlighting the kingdom’s attempts to rebrand itself despite a troubling human rights record.

The festival, called Soundstorm, drew over 700,000 attendees over three days in December 2023. It featured major DJs and artists, but also drew criticism from human rights groups and families of those harmed by the Saudi government. Critics say the event is an attempt to distract from the country’s record on issues like political repression, the war in Yemen, and the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

Saudi Arabia has faced international condemnation for its human rights practices. It has been censured by dozens of countries and in 2024 it was denied a second attempt at getting a seat on the United Nations Human Rights Council. In the U.S., families of victims of the Sept. 11 terror attacks have accused the Saudi government of having possible ties to the attack. (This connection hasn’t been proven.)

But Saudi Arabia has also made progress with some powerful people in the West,especially the trump family. donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner worked with the Saudis to get a $2 billion investment in his company and recently teamed up with the country’s investment fund to make a $55 billion deal to buy the video game company Electronic Arts.Trump has kept a close relationship with the crown prince during the Saudi royal’s time in power.

The festival and what happened afterward also gives a rare look into these events and,in particular,the money and self