Louis C.K. recently spoke about his participation in the first-ever Riyadh Comedy Festival in Saudi Arabia.
During his appearance on Real Time, the comedian shared that he had ambivalent feelings about attending the festival, which has sparked controversy. Despite this, he believes it to be a beneficial experience, even though it drew criticism from fellow comedians.
“I’ve had conversations with other comedians who have performed there, and they were quite astonished by the reception,” he explained to host Bill Maher. “For instance, a Jewish lesbian comedian received a standing ovation after her performance. It’s evident that some surprising developments are happening at the festival.”
Louis C.K. elaborated, “Artists and comedians have been visiting Saudi Arabia for some time now. There was even a film festival there recently, signaling a new openness. Previously, I consistently declined offers to perform in Arab countries. I perform worldwide, and initially, when approached for this festival, I was told about only two restrictions related to their religion and government, which aren’t the focus of my comedy anyway. Before, such offers came with a long list of conditions, which made me refuse. However, the recent changes made the offer intriguing. I see it as an excellent chance to engage through comedy.”
Noting his plans to visit a local comedy club on his first night in Saudi Arabia to meet local comedians, C.K. expressed, “I have a deep appreciation for stand-up and comedians. Seeing this scene beginning to blossom there excites me, and I want to experience and contribute to it.”
Later in the discussion, C.K. highlighted, “This whole conversation is worthwhile. I appreciate that it’s being brought up and questioned. It’s important not to overlook the realities of the situation.”
“The debate did make me question whether to participate. It has its positives and negatives. But, ultimately, my decision leans towards attending. I believe it’s the right choice and I understand my own reasoning clearly,” he admitted.
Several comedians have criticized their colleagues for agreeing to perform at the festival, pointing to the Saudi government’s involvement in past controversies like the 9/11 attacks and the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018. They also highlight the human rights violations committed by the Saudi minister of entertainment, Turki Al-Sheikh, who organized the festival.
Joey Shea, a researcher from Human Rights Watch, told CBS News, “The Saudi government has spent billions on high-profile entertainment events to distract from its dismal human rights record. These events are meant to shift focus from serious issues, such as the increasing number of executions.”
Since the announcement of the festival’s initial lineup in July by Deadline, the event has grown to feature big names like Kevin Hart, Aziz Ansari, Dave Chappelle, Bill Burr, Whitney Cummings, Pete Davidson, Hannibal Buress, Jack Whitehall, Zarna Garg, Gabriel Iglesias, Jim Jefferies, Jo Koy, Bobby Lee, Jeff Ross, Andrew Santino, Tom Segura, Chris Tucker, and others.
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