By Naman Trivedi

Copyright timesnownews

The Riyadh Comedy Festival, billed as one of the largest global comedy events of its kind, kicked off on Friday in Saudi Arabia’s capital and runs through October 9. Boasting a lineup packed with some of the world’s biggest comedic names, the festival is drawing not just laughs, but controversy. Who’s Performing? The festival features a staggering list of high-profile comics, most of them American. Among those scheduled to perform: Dave ChappelleKevin HartAziz AnsariPete DavidsonAndrew SchulzJo KoyBill BurrJessica KirsonJimmy CarrLouis C.K.Sebastian ManiscalcoMaz JobraniTom SeguraWhitney CummingsJimeoinRussell PetersAndrew SantinoBobby LeeChris DistefanoMark NormandGabriel IglesiasHannibal BuressSam MorrilJeff RossOmid DjaliliAli SiddiqZarna GargChris TuckerBen HartDespite the star power, the event has quickly become a flashpoint in the culture wars surrounding artistic freedom, global politics, and human rights. Why Is the Festival Controversial? Saudi Arabia’s attempt to rebrand itself as a cultural hub through massive investment in sports and entertainment is widely seen by critics as an effort to “sportswash” or “culture-wash” its human rights record. Human Rights Watch (HRW) issued a statement last week accusing the Saudi government of using the comedy festival to “deflect attention from its brutal repression of free speech and other pervasive human rights violations.” The timing of the event is particularly sensitive: the festival overlaps with the seventh anniversary of the 2018 murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, who was killed and dismembered inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, a murder widely believed to have been ordered by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Just months ago, the kingdom also reportedly executed Turki al-Jasser, a journalist known for exposing corruption among the royal family. Backlash from Comedians and Activists Some comedians, fans, and human rights advocates are openly criticizing the performers for accepting what are believed to be highly lucrative deals. Critics argue that these artists are participating in an event where content is censored and speech is restricted, all while helping the regime soften its international image. Comedian Marc Maron, host of the “WTF” podcast, recently slammed the festival onstage, “From the folks that brought you 9/11, two weeks of laughter in the desert. Don’t miss it… 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.” Others, like Shane Gillis, said they turned down offers even after being promised more money. Gillis noted on his podcast, “It was a significant bag, but I’d already said no. I took a principled stand.” Comedian Atsuko Okatsuka shared screenshots on Threads showing that the festival’s contract included strict “Content Restrictions” that forbid performers from criticizing Saudi Arabia, the royal family, or religion. She sarcastically noted, “A lot of the ‘you can’t say anything anymore!’ comedians are doing the festival 😂” Who Declined? Several comics have confirmed they were invited but turned it down: Shane GillisAtsuko OkatsukaMike BirbigliaLeslie LiaoStavros HalkiasNimesh Patel (initially accepted, later backed out)Patel announced in a TikTok video, now deleted, that he had a “change of heart” and would not be performing, “I’ll just do 40 shows that I had not planned on doing here in the perfectly clean, moral, above-everyone-else, United States of America — to make up for the lost bag.” Meanwhile, comedian Tim Dillon said he was dropped from the lineup after making a joke referencing slavery in Saudi Arabia, “I’m gonna get fired again from people that are not even Saudis… Let me relish in this. Let’s take this win.” Censorship and the “Free Speech” Irony The festival’s internal rules prohibit artists from making jokes that may “degrade, defame, or bring into public disrepute” the country, its royals, or any religion. That’s prompted widespread accusations of hypocrisy, especially from comedians known for championing free speech. Human Rights Watch has urged participating comedians to speak out, “Comedians receiving hefty sums from Saudi authorities shouldn’t be silent on prohibited topics in Saudi like human rights or free speech,” said HRW researcher Joey Shea.