Performers at the event, which ran from Sept. 26 to Oct. 9, faced a torrent of criticism from NGOs and, more pertinently, from their fellow comedians. Arrested Development star David Cross wrote , “I am disgusted, and deeply disappointed in this whole gross thing,” condemning artists willing to “condone this totalitarian fiefdom” for a huge paycheck. British comedian Stewart Lee took aim at the “evil, amoral, grifting bastards” taking Saudi money to perform.
Let’s start with the good news: As an exercise in artwashing, the Riyadh Comedy Festival was a complete failure. The Saudi regime spends billions of dollars promoting cultural and sporting events in an effort to distract from its endless human rights abuses. This time, it only succeeding in drawing attention to them.
Let’s start with the good news: As an exercise in artwashing, the Riyadh Comedy Festival was a complete failure. The Saudi regime spends billions of dollars promoting cultural and sporting events in an effort to distract from its endless human rights abuses. This time, it only succeeding in drawing attention to them.
Performers at the event, which ran from Sept. 26 to Oct.
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