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6h ago

Chappelle’s ‘Easier to Talk in Saudi Arabia’ Quip Intensifies Scrutiny of Riyadh Comedy Festival

Rights groups call the state-funded event image‑laundering, citing leaked content limits alongside reported six‑figure fees.

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MARTHA'S VINEYARD, MASSACHUSETTS - AUGUST 08: Dave Chappelle speaks at the premiere of "Dave Chappelle: Live In Real Life" benefitting the Duke Ellington School of the Arts during the 2025 Martha's Vineyard African American Film Festival at Martha's Vineyard Performing Arts Center on August 08, 2025 in Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts. (Photo by Arturo Holmes/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, D.C. - JUNE 20: Comedian Dave Chappelle speaks at the dedication of the theater at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, D.C. on June 20, 2022. The auditorium was set to be renamed for alum Dave Chappelle but, in a surprise move, he asked the theater to be named Theater for Artistic Freedom and Expression.
Dave Chappelle speaks onstage during the Jazz at Lincoln Center Gala on April 30, 2025 in New York City. (Michael Loccisano/Getty Images for Jazz At Lincoln Center)

Overview

  • DURING his headlining set in Riyadh, Dave Chappelle said it is “easier to talk” there than in the U.S. and joked about being canceled for discussing Charlie Kirk, according to The New York Times.
  • The inaugural Riyadh Comedy Festival runs Sept. 26 to Oct. 9 and features more than 50 international comics, including Kevin Hart, Bill Burr, Louis C.K. and Pete Davidson.
  • Human Rights Watch condemned the festival as an effort to deflect attention from Saudi Arabia’s repression of free speech and other abuses.
  • Comedian Atsuko Okatsuka shared alleged offer terms barring criticism of religion and the royal family, while Bill Burr said he agreed to avoid those topics after negotiating; reports cite offers ranging from roughly $375,000 to as high as $1.6 million.
  • The comedy community is publicly split, with David Cross castigating participants and Burr praising the engagement as a positive cultural exchange, as the state-backed showcase continues.