David Cross Critiques Comedians at Riyadh Comedy Festival

Comedian David Cross voiced strong disapproval over his fellow comedians’ participation in the Riyadh Comedy Festival, which kicked off in Saudi Arabia on September 26 and will run until the end of October. This event features a lineup of 50 well-known comedians, including stars like Kevin Hart and Pete Davidson.

In a statement on his website, Cross specifically called out notable names such as Dave Chappelle, Louis CK, and Bill Burr, expressing his disappointment regarding their decision to perform in a country he described as committing “crimes against humanity.” He shared his thoughts, stating, “What do I think? I’m tired of it and I’m deeply disappointed in this whole thing.” He further lamented that those he admires would tolerate working in such a repressive environment.

Cross also referenced a Human Rights Watch report, which accused Saudi Arabia of using the festival as a means to divert attention from its serious human rights violations, including the oppression of free speech. He suggested that comedians participating in the festival risk losing credibility on political issues, implying that by performing there, they may ignore or overlook these severe abuses.

He questioned, “How can we take these comedians seriously again?” Cross emphasized that if they were actually vocal about the issues at hand, like torture or the execution of journalists, their credibility might suffer even further. He expressed frustration over the comedians’ disregard for the oppressive nature of the Saudi regime, labeling it one of the “most oppressive” on the planet.

Cross concluded his remarks by urging followers to support causes that genuinely matter and shared a link to the Human Rights Foundation. Meanwhile, other comedians have also commented on the festival. For instance, Mark Maron challenged the idea of promoting such an event, saying, “How do you promote it? Two weeks of laughter in the desert from those who brought 9/11.”

In a recent episode of his podcast, comedian Shane Gillis revealed that he had also received an offer to perform at the festival but turned it down for principled reasons.

Interestingly, while some comedians are embracing the opportunity, others, like Gillis, are choosing to step back amidst rising concerns over the implications of participating in this controversial event.