By Tomás Mier
Copyright rollingstone
Skip to main content
Tomás Mier, Emily Zemler
October 3, 2025
Dave Chappelle
Amanda Andrade-Rhoades/For The Washington Post via Getty Images
Dave Chappelle ironically used a Saudi comedy event to talk about freedom of speech. According to The New York Times, Chappelle — who has been under fired for his transphobic jokes in the past — used his comedy set at the Riyadh Comedy Festival to speak about the lack of freedom of speech in the United States, especially in the wake of Charlie Kirk’s killing.
“Right now in America, they say that if you talk about Charlie Kirk, that you’ll get canceled,” the comedian said. “I don’t know if that’s true, but I’m gonna find out.”
He later told the audience, according to The Times, “It’s easier to talk here than it is in America.”
The outlet reported that Chappelle spoke about the United States’ targeting of Jimmy Kimmel after his comments about Kirk on his show, and that Chappelle expressed his appreciation for being able to make any joke in Saudi Arabia. However, it comes after a crackdown on free speech on Saudis themselves, some of whom have been arrested for their comments about their own government. (Just last year, a retired teacher was sentenced to death over his criticism of the Saudi government, according to Amnesty International.)
The Riyadh Comedy Festival has been under fire recently, with many comedians being criticized for participating in the event. Bill Burr performed at the show’s opening night on Friday and later defended his appearance on his podcast, suggesting that the cultural exchange could have some benefit.
“I had to stop a couple times during the show and say, ‘I’ll be honest with you guys, I cannot fucking believe any of you have any idea who I am,’” Burr said. “It was just this great exchange of energy. They know their reputation. So they were extra friendly.” He added, “The royals loved the show. Everyone was happy. The people that were doing the festival were thrilled.”
He continued, “It was a mind-blowing experience. Definitely top three experiences I’ve ever had. It was great to experience that part of the world and to be a part of the first comedy festival over there in Saudi Arabia. I think it’s going to lead to a lot of positive things.”
Editor’s picks
The 250 Greatest Albums of the 21st Century So Far
The 100 Best TV Episodes of All Time
The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time
100 Best Movies of the 21st Century
Burr and Chappelle were among the robust lineup of performers at the festival and was joined by the likes of Kevin Hart, Aziz Ansari, Louis C.K., Pete Davidson, Jo Koy, and Jimmy Carr.
Trending Stories
Taylor Swift Conquers Her Biggest Stage Ever on ‘The Life of a Showgirl’
Taylor Swift’s ‘The Life of a Showgirl’ Is Officially Here
Hayley Williams Confirms Morgan Wallen Is the ‘Racist Country Singer’ She Sings About
Nicki Minaj and Cardi B Are Exchanging Incendiary Tweets — And It’s Escalating Quickly
Atsuko Okatsuka said that she turned down an offer to perform at the festival. “The money is coming straight from the Crown Prince, who actively executes journalists, ppl with nonlethal drug offenses, bloggers, etc without due process,” she wrote in a post. “A lot of the ‘you can’t say anything anymore!’ Comedians are doing the festival … they had to adhere to censorship rules about the types of jokes they can make.”
A few days after Okatsuka’s post, David Cross published a statement denouncing some of his “HEROES” for participating in the festival. Cross called out “Dave and Louie and Bill, and Jim,” adding, “Clearly you guys don’t give a shit about what the rest of us think, but how can any of us take any of you seriously ever again? All of your bitching about ‘cancel culture’ and ‘freedom of speech’ and all that shit? Done. You don’t get to talk about it ever again. By now we’ve all seen the contract you had to sign.”
Theo Von Addresses ‘Choppy’ Filmed Comedy Show: ‘I’ll Eat Failure for Breakfast’
Being Honest
Brennan Lee Mulligan Is Saving the World, One Dungeons and Dragons Game at a Time
Elisabeth Garber-Paul
He Grew Obsessed With an AI Chatbot. Then He Vanished in the Ozarks
Missing Person
Jane Goodall, Trailblazing Primatologist and Environmental Activist, Dead at 91
Jon Blistein
‘Dopey’ Podcast’s Addiction War Stories Are as Entertaining as They Are Hopeful
Dark Comedy
Shirley Halperin
Go to PMC.com
Most Popular
J.K. Rowling Slams ‘Ignorant’ Emma Watson as Their Rift Intensifies; Author Claims Watson Once Wrote Her a Note Expressing Sympathy Over Anti-Trans Backlash
Bill Burr Defends Performing at Controversial Riyadh Comedy Festival: “They’re Just Like Us”
Steve McQueen’s Granddaughter Sues Lawyer over $68 M. Jackson Pollock Painting
Insider Claims Nicole Kidman & Keith Urban’s Separation Is ‘One-Sided’
You might also like
Uruguay Showcases Upcoming Releases at Iberseries, Including Pics from Daniel Hendler, Andrés Varela, Cinevinay and Cimarrón
3 hours ago
16 Vintage Comfort Food Recipes You’ll Want to Make this Fall
5 hours ago
EXCLUSIVE: Ami Taps Adam DiMarco for Fall Campaign
How Did an X-Rated Movie Called ‘F*ck My Son!’ Become a Battleground for AI Misinformation?
7 hours ago
Savannah Bananas Look for Their Own Mr. October
16 hours ago
Rolling Stone is a part of Penske Media Corporation. © 2025 Rolling Stone, LLC. All rights reserved.
Powered by WordPress.com VIP
