Some of the world’s most prominent comedians have gathered in Saudi Arabia for the Riyadh Comedy Festival, sparking controversy among other comedians and human rights organizations due to the host nation’s history of human rights violations.
The Riyadh Comedy Festival, organized by the country’s General Entertainment Authority, touts itself as the “world’s largest comedy festival,” featuring over 50 standup “legends” from September 26 to October 9. Notably, comedians like Dave Chappelle, Louis C.K., Pete Davidson, Kevin Hart, and Russell Peters are headlining the event.
Criticism and scrutiny surround the participation of these comedians, with some declining offers to perform in Riyadh. Comedians Shane Gillis, Mike Birbiglia, and Stavros Halkias have publicly stated that they turned down opportunities to appear at the festival.
Human Rights Watch has called on the comedians participating in the festival to use their platform to advocate for the release of detained activists and journalists critical of the regime. Failure to address these issues, the organization warns, could contribute to whitewashing the Saudi government’s reputation.
The festival has faced backlash for potential censorship and content restrictions. Comedian Atsuko Okatsuka revealed that performers in Riyadh are subject to rules prohibiting jokes that disparage the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the royal family, or religious figures and practices.
While the festival aims to promote Riyadh as a cultural hub and align with the Vision 2030 economic plan to diversify the country’s economy, critics argue that such high-profile events serve as distractions from human rights abuses within the country. The government’s strategy of hosting international events is seen as a way to improve its global image and divert attention from its troubling record on human rights issues.