
"I hoped that this could help LGBTQ+ people in Saudi Arabia feel seen and valued. I am grateful that I was able to do precisely that - to my knowledge, I am the first openly gay comic to talk about it on stage in Saudi Arabia. I received messages from attendees sharing how much it meant to them to participate in a gay-affirming event. At the same time, I deeply regret participating under the auspices of the Saudi government."
"The current Riyadh Comedy Festival taking place in Saudi Arabia has received major backlash, including harsh criticism from comedians who are not participating in the two-week event. In recent days, fellow comedians like Marc Maron, Shane Gillis, and David Cross (who wrote a lengthy takedown of his peers) have blasted the festival and the stand-up comics on the lineup, citing Saudi Arabia's involvement in 9/11, the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, and the country's history of oppressing women and members of the LGBTQ+ community."
Major international comedians performed at the Riyadh Comedy Festival and reportedly earned substantial fees for appearances. Several prominent comedians publicly criticized the lineup and the event, citing Saudi Arabia's alleged involvement in 9/11, the murder of Jamal Khashoggi, and longstanding oppression of women and LGBTQ+ people. Jessica Kirson, who is openly lesbian, performed on September 29 and later apologized, saying she had hoped to help LGBTQ+ Saudis feel seen but regretted participating under the Saudi government and apologized to fans. Louis C.K. defended his decision on Real Time with Bill Maher, noting visiting comedians' reactions.
Read at Consequence
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