US EditionRiyadh Comedy Festival Proceeds as Top Comics Face Intensifying Backlash
The festival features over 50 international comedians but faces backlash amid censorship rules and human rights concerns, including the removal of Tim Dillon over forced labor jokes.
- Bill Burr discussed his experience performing at the Riyadh Comedy Festival, highlighting its significance as one of his top three experiences despite initial nerves about performing in Saudi Arabia.
- The festival, featuring top comedians like Dave Chappelle and Louis C.K., has faced significant backlash for Saudi Arabia's human rights record, which includes free speech repression and executions.
- Amnesty International's Kyinzom Dhongdue noted that the festival distracts from Saudi Arabia's ongoing human rights abuses and emphasized comedians' responsibility to speak out about these issues while performing.
121 Articles
121 Articles
Dictatorships are not known for their sense of humor. That’s why I didn’t see it coming that Saudi Arabia would stage a comedy festival. I learned thanks to a video on Zach Woods networks, comedian and actor of series like The Office and Silicon Valley. In his video he charges against the festival, which is held from September 26th to October 9th, and features Dave Chapelle, Aziz Ansari, Kevin Hart and Jimmy Carr, among other people who apparent…
The festival, organized by Saudi Arabia, is criticized by comedians and Human Rights Watch.
The "Riyadh Comedy Festival" lured famous humorists into the Saudi capital with huge gags. Organisations such as "Human Rights Watch" criticise that they are helping to conceal human rights violations.
Pete Davidson and Kevin Hart among comedians criticised for controversial comedy festival - The Mirror
Bill Burr and Jimmy Carr are among the many comedians receiving backlash from comedy colleagues and the public after signing on to the Riyadh Comedy festival despite Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses
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