Overview

• The two-week, government-backed event opened Sept. 26 in Riyadh’s Boulevard City and runs through Oct. 9 with Kevin Hart, Dave Chappelle, Pete Davidson, Aziz Ansari and other major comics.
• Human Rights Watch labels the festival image laundering and urges performers to call for the release of detainees, highlighting the timing near the seventh anniversary of Jamal Khashoggi’s murder.
• Comedian Atsuko Okatsuka posted screenshots of an alleged offer with “Content Restrictions” barring material that could defame the kingdom, the royal family, the legal system, the government or any religion.
• Tim Dillon says he was dropped after making critical jokes and says he was offered $375,000 to perform, claiming some headliners were paid over $1.6 million.
• Shane Gillis says he declined even after the offer was doubled, and Nimesh Patel says he canceled his slot and scheduled a 40-date tour to replace the lost income.