Riyadh Comedy Festival comedians face criticism from peers for participating amid human rights debate

Several comedians have spoken out against high-profile peers for performing at the Riyadh Comedy Festival, which opened in Saudi Arabia on September 26.

The line-up features Dave Chappelle, Louis C.K., Whitney Cummings, Bill Burr, Zarna Garg, Aziz Ansari, Kevin Hart, Bobby Lee and Andrew Santino as part of the inaugural two-week event.

Marc Maron was among the first to criticise the festival, using a standup clip shared on Instagram to question how comedians could promote the event, calling into question Saudi Arabia's political record. He also noted that he had not been invited to perform, making his stance easier to maintain.

Zach Woods posted a satirical video addressing human rights concerns, referencing restrictions under officials who oversee entertainment in the country.

Shane Gillis confirmed on his Secret Podcast that he declined an invitation despite being offered what he described as a large sum, later doubled by organisers. Stavros Halkias also turned down the offer, while Chris Distefano admitted he accepted after his wife encouraged him to take the money.

Tim Dillon claimed he was removed from the festival after making jokes on his podcast about Saudi Arabia’s alleged labour practices, despite agreeing to perform for a reported fee of USD 375,000.

Atsuko Okatsuka posted screenshots of the contract sent to her, showing censorship clauses while Mike Birbiglia also revealed that he declined to perform and praised those who did the same.

The festival forms part of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 plan to expand entertainment and reduce economic dependence on oil.