Overview

• The multi-day event in Riyadh runs through Oct. 9 and features U.S. stars including Dave Chappelle, Kevin Hart, Aziz Ansari, Louis C.K., Bill Burr, Pete Davidson and Chris Tucker.
• Human Rights Watch accuses organizers of using the festival to gloss over the kingdom’s rights record.
• Performers were given rules barring material deemed derogatory toward Saudi Arabia, its royal family or religion, according to guidelines shared by Atsuko Okatsuka.
• Media reports say comedians are receiving payments in the hundreds of thousands of dollars for their appearances.
• Tim Dillon was dropped after a podcast remark about taking the money, and Okatsuka declined to perform, intensifying a dispute within the U.S. comedy community.