Overview

• Human Rights Watch on Oct. 8 said no performers at the state-backed Riyadh Comedy Festival have publicly urged the release of detainees Waleed Abu al-Khair and Manahel al-Otaibi during the Sept. 26–Oct. 9 event.
• Bill Burr doubled down this week on his decision to perform, calling critics sanctimonious, saying content rules were narrowed to bans on religion and the royal family, and arguing engagement can drive progress.
• Jessica Kirson apologized after her Sept. 29 set, said she performed openly as a lesbian to support visibility, and pledged to donate her fee to a human rights organization.
• Aziz Ansari told Jimmy Kimmel he shares concerns and said part of his fee should support press and human-rights groups; HRW noted it cannot accept such donations and urged public calls for releases instead.
• Screenshots shared by Atsuko Okatsuka showed offer language barring jokes that degrade Saudi Arabia, its leadership or any religion, fueling censorship concerns as critics also highlighted the overlap with Jamal Khashoggi’s murder anniversary.