Comedian Atsuko Okatsuka Rejects Saudi Riyadh Comedy Festival Censorship Offer

Comedian Atsuko Okatsuka publicly declined an offer to perform at Saudi Arabia's Riyadh Comedy Festival due to strict censorship rules imposed by the event organizers, which forbid jokes that could discredit the Kingdom, its leadership, royal family, government, legal system, or religion. She revealed that the funding for the festival comes directly from Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, whom she and other critics accuse of human rights abuses including the execution of journalists and political dissidents without due process. Despite these ethical concerns, major comedians such as Dave Chappelle, Kevin Hart, and Pete Davidson are participating under these censorship constraints. Fellow comedian Marc Maron vocally criticized the event, highlighting Saudi Arabia's alleged involvement in the 9/11 attacks and the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, questioning how performers could promote a show backed by such a regime. Other comedians, including Leslie Liao and Mike Birbiglia, have also publicly refused to participate, supporting Okatsuka's stance. The controversy underscores a broader debate in the comedy community about balancing lucrative opportunities with moral and artistic principles in the face of authoritarian sponsorship.