Louis CK has defended his decision to perform at the Riyadh comedy festival in Saudi Arabia after fellow comedians criticised the big names taking part as whitewashing a regime guilty of human rights abuses.
Speaking on Real Time With Bill Maher, CK, who is co-headlining the festival with the British comedian Jimmy Carr on Monday night local time, said other comedians had been “really surprised” by the response from audiences in Riyadh so far.Dave Chappelle, Bill Burr, Kevin Hart, Pete Davidson, Whitney Cummings, Aziz Ansari, hannibal Burress, Jim Jefferies, Jo Koy, Tom Segura and Jeff Ross are among the lineup at Riyadh comedy festival, which finishes on 9 October.
“There’s a woman who’s a lesbian and Jewish, who did a show there, and she got a standing ovation,” CK said, referring to Jessica Kirson, who has expressed “sincere regret” for performing at the festival.
“So, there’s stuff going on that’s unexpected in this thing,” CK continued. “People have been playing saudi Arabia for years. Comedians have been going and playing Arab countries. There was a film festival there recently, it’s kind of opened up. But I’ve always said no to Arab countries.”
CK said he was told there would onyl be two restrictions on what he could talk about on stage: “Their religion and their government.”
“I don’t have jokes about those two things,” he added. “It used to be when I got offers from places like that, there would be a long list, and I’d just say, ‘No, I don’t need that.’ but when I heard it’s opening, I thought, that’s awfully interesting. That just feels like a good opportunity. And I just feel like c## Comedians Defend Participation in Saudi Arabia’s First Comedy Festival Amidst Backlash
Several comedians who performed at Saudi Arabia’s inaugural Riyadh Comedy Festival in September 2024 have publicly addressed the controversy surrounding their participation, defending their decisions despite criticism from some who view it as legitimizing the Saudi government’s human rights record.
Bill Burr, who performed on September 26, 2024, described the experience as “mind-blowing” and expressed optimism about its potential impact. Speaking on his Monday Morning Podcast, Burr stated the event was well-received by both the audience and Saudi royalty, and that fellow comedians he’s spoken with believe there’s a genuine desire for stand-up comedy in the country. He believes the festival “is going to lead to a lot of positive things.” [http://au.variety.com/2025/tv/news/bill-burr-defends-riyadh-comedy-festival-backlash-1236536805/](http://au.variety.com/2025/tv/news/bill-burr-defends-riyadh-comedy-festival-backlash-1236536805/)
Burr acknowledged his own internal conflict, stating he “struggled about going” after hearing concerns, but ultimately felt compelled to participate. He emphasized his personal conviction in the decision, saying, “that’s my decision, and I know where it’s coming from, because I can see right inside myself.” He also expressed enthusiasm for the burgeoning comedy scene in Saudi Arabia, stating, “I love standup comedy, and I love comedians… I wanna see it, I wanna be part of it. I think that’s a positive thing.”
Jessica Kirson, who performed on September 29, 2024, took a more nuanced approach.She told *The hollywood Reporter* she specifically requested and received assurance she could discuss her identity as a lesbian on stage, hoping to offer visibility and validation to LGBTQ+ individuals in Saudi Arabia. She believes she was the first openly gay comic to do so in the country.However,Kirson also expressed regret for participating “under the auspices of the Saudi government” and apologized to fans who were disappointed.She has pledged to donate her performance fee to a human rights institution.
The Riyadh Comedy Festival took place despite widespread criticism of Saudi Arabia’s human rights record, including restrictions on freedom of speech, assembly, and LGBTQ+ rights. Human Rights Watch continues to document concerns regarding these issues. [https://www.hrw.org/middle-east/saudi-arabia](https://www.hrw.org/middle-east/saudi-arabia)