The Joke’s on Them: The Comical Controversy of the Riyadh Festival

Cradled by the sprawling deserts of Saudi Arabia, Riyadh, a city on an oasis, rises from desolation. Just like the sky-high Burj Rafal and Al Faisaliah buildings in its skyline, Saudi Arabia seems to be a nation reaching ever upward. The beauty of this ancient capital is undoubtable, but sinister intentions lurk beneath this veneer of modernity. 

 As the leaders of one of the last absolute monarchies in the world, the Saudi royalty seek global influence. The Saudis are and have been a nation dependent on oil for decades. Petrol states are inherently unstable, because they are unable to absorb economic shocks with market diversification. An oil crisis can have an outsized and complete effect on an economy entirely predicated on the success of oil. Current oil-dependent states like Nigeria and Venezuela are struggling, and the Saudis don’t wish to be added to their ranks. That’s why, for nearly 60 years, the Saudi government has prioritized diversification and cultural relevancy at all costs. 

One doesn’t need to look far to find examples of this cultural expansionism. The establishment of the Saudi Pro League has given Saudi Arabia international relevance in the sports world, especially since the capital city Riyadh’s very own Al-Nassr football club acquired Cristiano Ronaldo, possibly the most famous living athlete, in 2023. Saudi Arabia has also made a foray into gaming, purchasing the digital entertainment behemoth Electronic Arts for $55 billion in October. 

This year, the Saudis have made waves in the arts and entertainment community, hosting a comedy festival with A-list celebrities in Riyadh in September of 2025. Huge names such as Kevin Hart, Bill Burr, and Dave Chappelle were featured at the event, which took place from September 26 to October 9. Thousands of attendees—a mix of foreign fans and Saudi citizens—came to watch the mainly American performers over the course of the festival. But for both the locals and expatriates, the apparently innocuous comedy special seemed to be less about entertainment and more about distraction. Foreign jesters served to deflect and divert attention away from the dark human rights record of the hosts of the Riyadh comedy festival. The Saudi government has sanctioned the execution of nearly 250 people in 2025 alone. Their justice system lacks consistent fair trials and commonly invokes unjust, severe punishments, such as the death penalty.  Most notably, the Saudi anti-establishment journalist Turki Al-Jasseran, who often wrote critiques of the Saudi regime, was executed this August. His death is only one in a terrifying cycle perpetuating human rights abuses on those who speak out against Saudi justice violations..

The irony of outspoken anti-cancel culture celebrities like Chappelle spearheading a comedy show in an autocratic regime that suppresses dissent by force is clear. In 2022, Chappelle became known for his anti-censorship views through his comedy. In his special The Closer (2021), Chappelle shrugged off and ridiculed American cancel culture, making this opinion central to his image. The irony of someone synonymous with the movement of keeping “free speech” in comedy appearing at a festival hosted by a tyrannical regime that suppresses the very freedom he advocates for was not lost on other comedy bigwigs. Star comics like Shane Gillis have publicly spoken out against those who took money to perform at the show, citing hypocrisy and political divides. A clear schism has formed in the entertainment world between those who are willing to compromise morals for monetary gain and those who are not. 

This is not at all a new situation—other similar instances have occurred across the general entertainment industry. Fifteen years ago, Beyonce, Usher, and Lindsay Lohan all performed at private events for relatives of Muammar Gaddafi, the head of the Libyan regime. These American pop stars performed for a regime responsible for killing over 1,000 prisoners in a single day at Abu Salim, for the price of $2 million. While the artists later issued apologies after facing backlash, the support they indirectly showed for a government responsible for so much violence almost served as an endorsement of those actions.

 The power of fan backlash is best exemplified by the critique of pop icon Nicki Minaj for planning a performance in Saudi Arabia in 2019, which she canceled after facing widespread hate from her fanbase on social media due to the anti-LGBT and autocratic behaviors of the Saudi monarchy. Minaj pulling out of the performance shows that fans are not helpless in situations like this, but can actively affect the actions of public figures. 

 The Riyadh comedy festival is not an isolated event, but a symptom of a larger disease of economically-driven artists who lack political awareness and seem not to realize the possible negative effects of aligning themselves with countries with human rights violations. 

Events such as the Riyadh comedy festival reveal that monetary rewards and publicity are more important to some entertainers than using their positions to uphold human rights. However, this also means that by not supporting celebrities who stand with countries with human rights violations, it is possible to persuade them to reconsider their actions. The funding and support provided for the performers at the Riyadh festival by American fans far outweighs the payout from the Saudi royal family. If American supporters don’t align with the decisions of their favorite comedians or who they perform for, they can make their voice economically. A tangible way to condemn an entertainer’s actions is by not going to their next show, not buying their merchandise, and generally withdrawing support. Even if there are no shows coming up, supporters can also easily make their voices heard on forums or groups related to the artist, as well as on social media. If widespread backlash that potentially affects a comedian’s main source of income is evident, they’re likely to apologize and change their public behavior going forward.

Whether it be September’s Riyadh festival, or any future performance funded by a regime or cause you don’t support, being a fan gives you power. Speak out and make your opinion known with both your voice and your dime.