In Video: Comedians react to backlash surrounding Saudi Arabian Riyadh Comedy Festival
Drawing a Line in the Sand: Comedians Speak Out Against Saudi Arabia’s Comedy Festival
In the world of comedy and controversy, an amazing show, an amazing crowd. Tonight, some big comics drawing a line in the sand and blasting some big names scheduled to perform at the ongoing Riad comedy festival put on by Saudi Arabia.
The bill reads like the who’s who of comedy. The likes of Dave Chappelle, Kevin Hart, Aziz and Zari, Pete Davidson, and Louis CK are set to take the stage at the festival. But not everyone is on board with the idea. Comedians Take a Stand Against Saudi Arabia
Recently, comedian Oskotoaska revealed that she had declined the invitation to perform at the festival, posting a screenshot of the stipulations on her social media account. The rules state that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the royal family, and any religion are off limits. This move has sparked controversy among comedians and critics alike, who are questioning the morality of performing in a country with a history of human rights violations.
On his own podcast, Tim Dylan shared his own story of being fired from the festival after making jokes about Saudi Arabia. “I was fired from the Riad Comedy Festival. My agent called me and he said there they heard what you said about the them having slaves,” he said.
Censorship and Controversy
The festival is part of Muhammad bin Salman’s deliberate strategy to deflect attention from the reality of the human rights crisis in Saudi Arabia. The festival coincides with the 7th anniversary this month of the assassination of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi. Human Rights Watch says the watchdog organization has documented a soaring surge in executions this year and human rights violations.
One comedian, who wishes to remain anonymous, revealed that he was offered a hefty sum of money to perform at the festival. “They’re paying me $375,000 for one show. Now, a lot of other people are getting $1.6 million,” he shared. But with the money comes censorship rules, and some comedians are questioning whether it’s worth sacrificing their artistic freedom.
A Principled Stand
For one comedian, the decision to decline the invitation was an easy one. “I took a principled stand. Yeah, against Saudi Arabia. I mean, how do you even promote that?” he said in an interview.
The decision has not been without its backlash. The comedian has been receiving negative comments online, with some people accusing him of not understanding the cultural context. However, he remains steadfast in his decision.
“I’ve been getting a little bit of flack just cuz like my dad died 9/11. So they’re like, ‘How could you possibly go there?’ But I’m not doing it. That is good. I admire that,” he said.
In the end, the decision to perform at the Riad comedy festival may come down to a matter of personal values and priorities. For some comedians, the money is just not worth sacrificing their artistic freedom and integrity.
