The actors performing at the Saudi comedy festival called for the “bleached” country regime

Some of the greatest actors in the world gathered in Saudi Arabia for the Riyad Comedy Festival – but not everyone laughs.

The participation by big names in the world of comedy, notably Dave Chappelle, Louis CK, Pete Davidson, Kevin Hart and Russell Peters, has been the subject of a meticulous examination of other groups of comics and human rights defense, taking into account the balance sheet of human rights violations of the host nation.

Riyad Comedy Festival, organized by General Entertainment Authority in the country, Bills himself As “the biggest comedy festival in the world”, welcoming more than 50 “legends” standing from September 26 to October 9.

“People who brought you on September 11, two weeks of laughter in the desert – don’t miss it!” The actor Marc Maron joked on the festival in a Standup bit published on Instagramnoting that there has not been asked to participate.

In a satirical video on social networks, the actor and actor Zach Woods called those who took a position against the “Drips, Killjoys and Dweebazoids” festival.

“Name an actor who did not go to a dictator,” Woods joked.

Comics Shane Gillis,, Mike Birbiglia And Stavros Halkias also said that he had refused offers to play Riyadh.

The actors “should not be silent”: Human Rights Watch

Human Rights Watch called on the participating actors to use appearances as a forum to demand militants and free journalists from the government who have been detained for criticizing the regime. Otherwise, the organization said that the comics would help “whiten the reputation of the Saudi government”.

“The seventh anniversary of the brutal murder of Jamal Khashoggi is not a question of laughing, and the actors receiving important sums from the Saudi authorities should not be silent on prohibited subjects in human rights like Saudi Arabia,” said Joey Shea, the researcher of Saudi Arabia for human rights, in a watch in a watch, Watch in a watch in a watch in a watch in a watch in a watch, in a watch in a watch in a watch in a watch, in a watch in a watch in a watch in a watch in a watch, in a watch in a watch in a watch, in a watch in a watch in a watch, in a watch in a watch in a watch in a watch in a watch, in a watch in a watch in a watch, in a watch in a watch in a watch in a watch statement.

Khashoggi, a journalist who had criticized the country’s government, was killed in the Saudi consulate in Türkiye in 2018. According to reported information in 2021, American intelligence agencies have concluded That his death had been approved by the Crown and Sovereign Prince de facto of the country, Mohammed Bin Salman.

While Shea says that certain social norms have been loosened in recent years under the Crown Prince, she noted that the Bin Salman rule has led to “one of the worst periods for human rights in modern history of the country”.

Dissent is systematically punished with prison or death delay, she told CBC News in an interview, and citizens are not authorized to protest.

Human Rights Watch has documented an increase in executions this year – At least 241 to 5 August – including that of another journalist, Turki Al-Jasser, who formerly directed a Twitter account where he made jokes on corruption in the Saudi royal family. Al-Jasser was kill by the June regime for “high treason”.

Be paid to “look in the other direction”

At least one actor said he had agreed to perform at the Festival for Cold and Hard in cash.

“They pay me enough to look in the other direction,” said the actor Tim Dillon said During the August 30 episode of his podcast in which he discussed the counterweight to his participation.

“Do I have problems with some of the politicians towards women, towards gays … towards freedom of expression? Well, of course, I do,” said Dillon. “But I believe in my own financial well-being.”

Dillon said he was going to be paid US $ 375,000 for his performance, and that other artists would earn up to $ 1.6 million.

But it was before Dillon revealed He was taken from the festival programming for his comments on the use by Saudi Arabia of forced labor.

“I approached him in a fun way and they dismissed me,” he said during the September 20 episode of his podcast.

Dillon said he would have respected the country’s rules at the festival, but did not appreciate attempts to control his speech outside the concert on his own podcast.

Content rules

According to the actor Atsuko Okatsuka, there are specific rules around Riyadh material artists are allowed to joke.

Okatsuka said on social networks that she refused an offer to make and shared a screenshot of a written offer which, according to her, said “rules of censorship”.

It included a section labeled “content restrictions” which prevents interpreters from making jokes which “degrade, defness or deposit public, contempt, scandal, embarrassment or ridiculous” of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Saudi royal family or any religious personality and practices.

“Lots of” you can’t say anything anymore! “The actors make the 😂 festival,” said Okatsuka, referring to some of the participating actors who have publicly insisted that they should be able to say what they want in the context of a joke.

It is not clear if one of the powerful comics in Riyadh had similar requirements in their contracts. CBC News contacted representatives for a certain number of actors concerning their reasons for performing at the festival and whether or not they have agreed not to approach certain themes as a performance condition, but none has responded in time for the publication.

The representatives of the SAUDI Entertainment Authority also did not respond to a request for comments.

Festival a “ efficient whitening strategy “

The general entertainment authority of the country said in a press release That the festival is intended to “amplify the status of Riyadh as the main destination for the main cultural and artistic events”.

Strengthen the entertainment industry in the country was a large part of the Bin Salman Vision 2030 Project – An economic plan to diversify the country far from its deep roots in the petroleum industry.

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The entertainment options within the country have been transformed considerably in recent years within the framework of the plan.

While musical events were prohibited, concerts began to appear – including ravesand performance by tastes Jennifer Lopez And Justin Bieber. Cinemas, film festivals and sporting events found a place in Saudi Arabia, a country where a decade ago, there was not an entertainment industry at all.

But Shea From Human Rights Watch says that these high -level events concern less economic changes and more on distracting international observers. Rather than seeing the country as a country that murders dissidents, says Shea, people will see it as a country open to progress and opportunities, or a partner in global events such as the 2034 World Cup, which Saudi Arabia should welcome.

She says that government attempts have been effective so far. When Khashoggi was killed in 2018, Saudi Arabia has become an “international pariah”, isolated on the world scene, she said, noting that the execution of June of Al-Jasser barely attracted the attention of the international community.

“This is only a small example of how, over a longer period of time with enough of these events, with enough of these high -level investments, this laundering strategy is incredibly effective.”