Overview

• The Riyadh Comedy Festival ran Sept. 26 to Oct. 9 with a lineup that included Bill Burr, Dave Chappelle, Louis C.K., Kevin Hart, Pete Davidson and Andrew Schulz.
• On her podcast, Cummings defended performing and claimed anyone working with Live Nation has taken Saudi money, urging listeners to search the company’s Saudi ties.
• Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund disclosed a 5.7% stake in Live Nation in 2020 and sold that holding last November, according to prior disclosures cited in coverage.
• Comedians including Marc Maron and David Cross publicly criticized participants, while Atsuko Okatsuka shared offer terms that outlined content restrictions for performers.
• Responses from attendees varied: Bill Burr said going “felt right,” Louis C.K. called it “a good opportunity,” Aziz Ansari pledged to donate part of his fee, and Human Rights Watch said it cannot accept such donations.