Overview

• The two-week event in Riyadh launched Friday and features U.S. headliners including Dave Chappelle, Kevin Hart, Bill Burr and Pete Davidson, with shows scheduled through October 9.
• Atsuko Okatsuka posted a Sela Group offer she declined that bars material seen as degrading Saudi Arabia, its royal family or government, and any religion.
• Comedians including Shane Gillis, Mike Birbiglia and Leslie Liao said they turned down invitations, citing principled objections.
• Human Rights Watch says the festival helps deflect attention from Saudi abuses and urges performers to publicly demand freedom for detained activists, journalists and dissidents.
• Human Rights Watch noted that Tim Dillon was removed from the lineup after joking about Saudi human rights on his podcast.