Dave Chappelle, Bill Burr, Louis CK, and other comedians have been criticized for their participation in the Riyadh Comedy Festival.

      Top comedians like Dave Chappelle, Kevin Hart, Aziz Ansari, Pete Davidson, Andrew Schulz, Jo Koy, Bill Burr, Jimmy Carr, and Louis CK are under significant criticism for agreeing to perform at the Riyadh Comedy Festival due to Saudi Arabia's human rights record.

      David Cross, co-creator of the influential show Mr. Show and a prominent standup comedian for many years, became one of the most visible critics of his peers on Monday when he released a statement regarding their decision to accept payment from Saudi Arabia for the festival, which is currently ongoing.

      “I am disgusted and deeply disappointed by this entire sordid situation,” Cross expressed. “It’s upsetting that people I respect, with undeniable talent, would endorse this totalitarian regime for…what, a vacation home? A boat? More sneakers?”

      He added, “We can never again take seriously anything these comedians say about social issues (unless it's about the lack of support for torture and mass executions of journalists and LGBTQ activists here in the U.S., or that we don’t instill enough fear in Americans by causing planes to crash into our buildings).”

      The festival did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Tuesday. The event, advertised as “your passport to a joy-filled weekend, cultural exploration, and unforgettable entertainment,” will continue until October 8.

      Cross noted that he was not invited to perform but stated that “no amount of money would persuade me to assist these depraved individuals in presenting a ‘fun image’ of their human rights atrocities.”

      Cross also criticized comedians who denounce “cancel culture” in their own country yet accept payment from a government known for its severe censorship abroad. As pointed out by The Independent, in June, the Saudi government executed journalist al-Jasser for “high treason” due to his writings on a blog and in a newspaper. Additionally, in 2018, Jamal Khashoggi, a U.S.-based journalist and critic of the Saudi regime, was murdered after entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, according to the BBC.

      A promotional poster for the ongoing Riyadh Comedy Festival.

      Cross specifically called out Chappelle, Burr, Louis CK, and Jimmy Carr, stating he had higher expectations of them.

      “These are some of my HEROES! Some of you may not stand for anything and thus have no credibility to lose, but good grief, Dave and Louie and Bill, and Jim? Clearly, you all disregard what the rest of us think. How can any of us ever take you seriously again? All your complaints about ‘cancel culture’ and 'freedom of speech'? Finished. You no longer have the right to speak on these issues. We’re all aware of the contracts you had to sign.

      “You are performing for, quite literally, the most oppressive regime on the planet. They have SLAVES for crying out loud!!!”

      Cross humorously recalled how he was labeled a sellout when he accepted a role in a children's film in 2007.

      “Holy smokes, I remember the backlash I received for appearing in Alvin and the Chipmunks! You’d think I had accepted money from people funding Al-Qaeda!”

      Lawyers representing the Saudi royal family have previously denied any ties to Al-Qaeda financing. However, Saudi Arabia has long been accused of involvement, including mention in a staff report on terrorist financing released by the bipartisan 9/11 Commission, which was established by President George W. Bush in 2002.

      This report indicated that “fund-raisers and facilitators throughout Saudi Arabia and the Gulf collected money for al-Qaeda from both informed and uninformed donors and diverted funds from Islamic charities and mosques.”

      It also stated, “The Commission staff found no evidence that the Saudi government as an institution or any senior officials knowingly supported al-Qaeda; however, a lack of awareness about the issue and insufficient oversight over institutions have fostered an environment in which such activities thrived.”

      Pete Davidson Discusses Decision to Perform at Riyadh Comedy Festival

      Among the comedians participating in the Riyadh Comedy Festival is Pete Davidson, whose father, a firefighter in Staten Island, died attempting to save lives on September 11, 2001.

      “I considered the logistics, and then I saw the payment offered, and thought, ‘I’ll go,’” Davidson recently said on Theo Von’s podcast. “I’ve received some backlash because my dad died on 9/11, leading people to question how I could possibly go there.”

      Fans online also resurfaced old videos to accuse comedians of hypocrisy, such as a clip where Louis CK criticized Shane Gillis, a comedian not performing at the festival, for monetizing part of Gillis’ podcast via Patreon.

      Comedian Atsuko Okatsuka Highlights Restrictions on Riyadh Comedy Festival Performers

      Comedian Atsuko Okatsuka shared on Threads that she declined to participate in the Riyadh Comedy Festival because “the money is coming directly from the Crown Prince, who actively executes journalists,