Comedians Face Backlash for Performing at Riyadh Festival
TL;DR
A Saudi-funded comedy festival in Riyadh featuring prominent Western comedians has sparked widespread criticism due to the country's human rights abuses and censorship practices, with many performers facing moral dilemmas and some declining participation, highlighting the complex ethics of entertainment in authoritarian regimes.
- ‘Amoral, evil’: vitriolic backlash builds against comics who played Riyadh festival The Guardian
- A-list comedians face backlash for performing at Saudi Arabian festival NBC News
- Why Arguments About Free Speech Don’t Apply to the Riyadh Comedy Festival The New York Times
- David Cross Slams Bill Burr For Performing at Riyadh Comedy Festival Variety
- Louis C.K. sells out San Francisco show after Saudi backlash San Francisco Chronicle
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