David Cross Condemns Comedians Performing at Riyadh Festival Amid Human Rights Concerns

The Riyadh Comedy Festival in Saudi Arabia, featuring prominent comedians such as Dave Chappelle, Kevin Hart, Bill Burr, and Louis C.K., has sparked significant backlash from fellow comedians and human rights advocates. David Cross publicly condemned the performers for participating in an event that he describes as supporting one of the world's most oppressive regimes, highlighting Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses including the use of slavery and repression of free speech. Cross criticized these comedians for accepting large sums of money to perform in a country with a brutal record on human rights, calling their participation "blood money" and accusing them of hypocrisy given their previous complaints about cancel culture and freedom of speech. Other comedians like Marc Maron and Shane Gillis have also disavowed the festival, emphasizing the moral implications of performing for a regime linked to the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi and widespread repression. Human Rights Watch has urged participants to demand the release of detained dissidents and activists, underscoring the political context of the festival. The controversy raises questions about the ethical responsibilities of entertainers when engaging with authoritarian regimes.