All articles tagged with #riyadh comedy festival
Weird Al Yankovic revealed he turned down a seven-figure offer to perform at Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh Comedy Festival, explaining that accepting Saudi money would feel “icky.” He did not criticize others who took the money but said he wouldn’t participate if it didn’t align with his values, and he noted he’s previously rejected an AI advertisement offer as well.
Weird Al Yankovic revealed he declined a seven-figure offer to perform at Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh Comedy Festival, saying he didn’t want money that would make him feel “icky.” He told TribLive he wouldn’t participate despite the huge payout, noting the festival’s controversy tied to the Saudi regime. Some comics defended performers who accepted money, while others criticized the event’s connections to human-rights concerns; it’s unclear if the festival will return in 2026. The piece also mentions Yankovic recently stepping back from an AI-ad deal as part of his principled stance.
Netflix’s Netflix Is a Joke festival roast of Kevin Hart included sharp jokes about Lizzo’s weight, the #MeToo movement, and Hart’s Riyadh Comedy Festival appearance, but several lines were cut; writer Madison Sinclair hinted at the scrapped material, and Netflix has not commented on the edits as Hart also addressed a past cheating scandal during the show.
At The Roast of Kevin Hart, Chelsea Handler and host Shane Gillis traded sharp barbs, with Handler firing back at Gillis (and fellow roaster Tony Hinchcliffe) over anti-Asian and manosphere-era jabs, Epstein references, and other hot topics. She also skewered Riyadh Comedy Festival attendees, while Gillis opened the exchange with a Zionist label for Handler and other pointed lines. The exchange showcased Handler’s cutting humor amid a night of heavy roasting for Netflix Is a Joke.
John Oliver kicks off Season 13 of Last Week Tonight with rapid-fire satire on the Netflix-WBD deal, while also riffing on the Riyadh Comedy Festival controversy and broader media-politics dynamics.
Dave Chappelle criticized Bill Maher for his comments on Chappelle's participation in the Riyadh Comedy Festival, defending his decision and dismissing Maher's critique as smug and unwarranted, while Maher and other comedians expressed mixed opinions about the festival's context and implications.
Whitney Cummings defends her performance at the Riyadh Comedy Festival, claiming the criticism she received is rooted in racism and highlighting the hypocrisy among critics and performers regarding Saudi Arabia's human rights issues and entertainment industry ties.
Whitney Cummings defends her participation in the Riyadh Comedy Festival against critics, accusing them of racism and hypocrisy, and highlights that many comedians and entertainment companies have also taken Saudi money, framing the backlash as politically motivated.
Jessica Kirson donated her entire fee from performing at the Riyadh Comedy Festival to the Human Rights Campaign, after facing criticism for participating in the event in Saudi Arabia, and expressed regret for her decision while highlighting her efforts to support LGBTQ+ visibility and human rights.
Human Rights Watch cannot accept donations from comedians performing at the Riyadh Comedy Festival in Saudi Arabia due to concerns over human rights abuses and the festival's role in whitewashing these issues, despite some comedians' intentions to donate their fees and call for the release of detained activists.
Human Rights Watch declined to accept donations from comedians, including Aziz Ansari, who performed at the Riyadh Comedy Festival, criticizing the festival's association with Saudi Arabia's human rights record. The organization emphasized its independence and called on performers to advocate for the release of detained Saudi activists, while many comedians defended their participation as a way to promote dialogue.
Aziz Ansari defended his participation in the Riyadh Comedy Festival during an interview on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, emphasizing that the festival promotes dialogue and change in Saudi Arabia, despite controversy over the country's human rights record. He highlighted the importance of engagement over isolation and expressed hope that such events can foster positive change.
Aziz Ansari defends his decision to perform at Saudi Arabia's Riyadh Comedy Festival, citing the importance of engagement and dialogue, and plans to donate part of his fee to human rights organizations, amid ongoing concerns over Saudi human rights abuses and the festival's controversial nature.
Bill Burr defends his participation in the controversial Riyadh comedy festival, criticizing critics as sanctimonious and emphasizing the importance of dialogue and comedy in addressing human rights issues in Saudi Arabia, despite widespread criticism from human rights organizations and other comedians.
Comedians performing at the Riyadh Comedy Festival are facing criticism for participating in an event in Saudi Arabia, a country known for its repressive policies and executions for speech, raising questions about the ethics of entertainment in such regimes.