Louis C.K. has become the latest comedian to publicly address his controversial decision to perform at Saudi Arabia’s first-ever Riyadh Comedy Festival, a star-studded event that has drawn both excitement and criticism across the entertainment world.
Appearing Friday on Real Time with Bill Maher, the comedian admitted he had “mixed feelings” about joining the festival but ultimately decided to view the opportunity as “a positive thing,” despite widespread backlash from fellow comics and human rights advocates.
“I’ve been talking to them, the comedians who’ve been there, and they’ve been really surprised by what’s going on,” C.K. said during his appearance. “There’s a woman who’s a lesbian and Jewish, who did a show there, and she got a standing ovation. So, there’s stuff going on that’s unexpected in this thing.”
“I Thought, That’s Awfully Interesting”
C.K., who has long maintained a globe-trotting touring schedule, said he had previously turned down offers to perform in Saudi Arabia and other Arab countries due to restrictions on content.
“People have been playing Saudi Arabia for years,” he continued. “Comedians have been going and playing Arab countries — there was a film festival there recently, it’s kind of opened up. But I’ve always said no to Arab countries. I do shows everywhere … and when this came up, they said there’s only two restrictions: their religion and their government, and I don’t have jokes about those two things.”
He added that earlier offers often came with “a long list” of off-limits subjects, but this time felt different: “When I heard it’s opening, I thought, that’s awfully interesting. That just feels like a good opportunity. And I just feel like comedy is a great way to get in and start talking.”
C.K. also said he intends to spend time meeting local comics while in Riyadh. “I love stand-up comedy, and I love comedians. So the fact that that’s starting to open up and starting to bud, I wanna see it, I wanna be part of it. I think that’s a positive thing.”
Acknowledging the Backlash
Later in the interview, C.K. acknowledged the criticism surrounding the festival and his participation in it. “I think the whole discussion is worthy,” he told Maher. “I’m glad these guys brought this stuff up, I’m glad that people are challenging this thing, because you shouldn’t just pretend it’s something it’s not.”
He admitted to wrestling with the decision: “I had mixed feelings about it too. I struggled about going once I heard what everybody was saying. There’s some good in it, maybe some bad in it. But for me, I think it cuts toward going. That’s my decision, and I know where it’s coming from, because I can see right inside myself.”
Human Rights Concerns Persist
Human rights organizations, including Human Rights Watch, have strongly criticized the festival and other Saudi entertainment initiatives, describing them as part of an effort to “whitewash” the kingdom’s record.
“The Saudi government has invested billions into high-profile entertainment events like these in a deliberate effort to whitewash the country’s human rights record and deflect from the egregious abuses that continue to happen inside of the country,” researcher Joey Shea told CBS News.
“These investments are a part of the broader strategy to… have people thinking about a comedy event, for example, rather than the soaring number of executions that are happening inside of the country,” she added.
A Divided Comedy World
Since the festival’s lineup was first announced in July, reactions have been sharply divided. Some comedians have condemned their peers for participating, citing Saudi Arabia’s role in 9/11, the 2018 murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, and the country’s record on women’s and LGBTQ+ rights.
Others, like C.K., see participation as a chance to build bridges and test boundaries in a society that has been cautiously expanding its entertainment sector under Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s Vision 2030 initiative.
The Riyadh Comedy Festival’s lineup now features a long list of global comedy stars, including Kevin Hart, Dave Chappelle, Aziz Ansari, Bill Burr, Whitney Cummings, Pete Davidson, Jim Jefferies, Jo Koy, Gabriel Iglesias, Hannibal Buress, Chris Tucker, and many more — signaling the kingdom’s growing influence in international entertainment.