A significant ethical debate has erupted within the comedy community following numerous high-profile comedians' participation in Saudi Arabia's Riyadh Comedy Festival. Among the most vocal critics is actor and comedian David Cross, who has publicly condemned his peers for agreeing to perform at an event widely perceived as a vehicle for 'sportswashing' or 'artswashing' by the Saudi regime.
Cross penned a scathing open letter, expressing profound disappointment in talents he once admired. He highlighted that these performers, reportedly commanding substantial fees, have consented to strict censorious guidelines prohibiting any jokes about the Kingdom's leadership, culture, legal system, royal family, or religion. The festival, ambitiously billed as "the world’s largest," features over 50 comedians, including household names like Bill Burr, Dave Chappelle, Louis C.K., Kevin Hart, Pete Davidson, and Jimmy Carr.
In his critique, Cross questioned the moral compass of those participating, suggesting their motivation for an additional home or luxuries pales in comparison to the human rights abuses attributed to the Saudi government. He passionately argued that by accepting "blood money," these comedians forfeit any credibility to speak on issues of "cancel culture" or "freedom of speech," especially when performing for a regime accused of suppressing dissent, imprisoning journalists, and executing LGBTQ+ activists.
However, not all participants share this view. Bill Burr, who performed on opening night, offered a defense of his experience on his podcast. He described his time in Saudi Arabia as a "great experience," praising the local audience and the royal family for their enthusiasm for stand-up comedy, expressing optimism for future positive developments.
The controverted contract terms were brought to light by comedian Atsuko Okatsuka, who reportedly declined an invitation to the festival and subsequently shared the restrictive clauses online. These stipulations explicitly forbid any material that could "degrade, defame or bring into public disrepute, contempt, scandal, embarrassment, or ridicule" Saudi Arabia's institutions or religious figures.
Other notable figures in comedy have also voiced strong disapproval. WTF podcaster Marc Maron sharply criticized the festival, drawing uncomfortable parallels to the 9/11 attacks and the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Similarly, Shane Gillis revealed he turned down a "significant bag" to maintain his principles, quipping, "You don’t 9/11 your friends."
The 9/11 connection gained particular poignancy with Pete Davidson's participation. Despite his firefighter father perishing in the 2001 attacks, Davidson chose to perform, candidly admitting on a podcast that the substantial paycheck, which he referred to as "the number," was the deciding factor. The timing is especially sensitive, as a federal judge recently allowed a lawsuit by 9/11 victims' families against Saudi Arabia to proceed.
The immense financial incentives were further underscored by comedian Tim Dillon. He claimed he was removed from the festival lineup for previous jokes about Saudi Arabia's use of forced labor, revealing that his potential payout would have been $375,000—a figure suggesting even more lucrative sums for headlining acts. This revelation highlights the powerful lure of "blood money" and the complex ethical quandaries it presents to the entertainment industry.
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Originally published at: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/david-cross-bill-burr-dave-chappelle-riyadh-comedy-festival-1236388959/
