At Saudi Arabia’s first global comedy festival, Dave Chappelle used his stage time to weigh in on the volatile state of free speech in America. With irony at the heart of his performance, the comedian found a pointed contrast between speaking his mind in the Middle East and navigating censorship back home, a comparison that triggered a wide spectrum of reactions, from praise to condemnation.
Chappelle in Riyadh: “It’s easier to talk here than in America”
Performing before a crowd of 6,000 at the Riyadh Comedy Festival, Dave Chappelle opened his set with a sharp jab at America’s climate around expression:“Right now in America, they say that if you talk about Charlie Kirk, you’ll get canceled. I don’t know if that’s true, but I’m gonna find out.” The reference came in the wake of political commentator Charlie Kirk’s killing, a subject that has drawn strong reactions inUS media. Chappelle doubled down during his act, saying:“It’s easier to talk here than it is in America.” According to The New York Times, Chappelle also acknowledged a looming concern about returning to the United States, stating:“They’re going to do something to me so that I can’t say what I want to say.” His commentary arrived amid heightened scrutiny ofUS broadcasters, particularly after late-night host Jimmy Ki mmel was briefly forced off air following a monologue about Kirk. Though Kimmel resumed his show shortly after, former President Donald Trump reportedly urged regulators to revoke licenses of networks that aired such criticism. Chappelle’s set, though comedic, tapped directly into the chilling effect this environment has had on public speech—even from those with large platforms.
Comedians split over Riyadh Comedy Festival
The Riyadh Comedy Festival’s lineup was packed with major American names: Kevin Hart, Pete Davidson, Bill Burr, Louis C.K., Gabriel Iglesias, Hannibal Buress, Tom Segura, Jeff Ross, Wayne Brady, Whitney Cummings, Aziz Ansari, Zarna Garg, Jim Jefferies, Jo Koy, Bobby Lee, Andrew Santino, and Chris Tucker, among others. The event, which runs through October 10, was billed as “world’s biggest comedy event” and a significant cultural milestone for the kingdom. However, the participation of prominent Western comedians drew swift and pointed backlash, particularly from their peers. In a public statement released Monday, David Cross lashed out at Chappelle, Bill Burr, and Louis C.K. for agreeing to perform in Saudi Arabia:“Clearly you guys don’t give a shit about what the rest of us think, but how can any of us take any of you seriously ever again? All of your bitching about ‘cancel culture’ and ‘freedom of speech’ and all that shit? Done.” He went further, accusing them of endorsing what he called a “totalitarian fiefdom” and referencing alleged contract stipulations tied to the event:“By now we’ve all seen the contract you had to sign.” Chappelle best known for his stand-up and Netflix specials has faced backlash before for controversial material, including past jokes deemed transphobic. His Saudi performance, however, highlighted a different irony—criticizing America’s restrictions on speech while standing on a stage in a country with its own known limits on expression.
Burr’s counterpoint: A cultural exchange, not endorsement
Offering a sharply different perspective was Bill Burr, who performed during the festival’s opening night and later shared his reflections on the October 2 episode of his Monday Morning Podcast. Burr described his experience in Riyadh as one of the top three in his career. He emphasized the warmth of the audience and the significance of the cultural exchange:“It was great to experience that part of the world and to be a part of the first comedy festival over there in Saudi Arabia.” On stage, Burr admitted he was surprised by the crowd’s familiarity with him:“I had to stop a couple times during the show and say, ‘I’ll be honest with you guys, I cannot fucking believe any of you have any idea who I am.” He described the atmosphere as welcoming and positive:“The royals loved the show. Everyone was happy. The people that were doing the festival were thrilled.” While acknowledging the country’s reputation, Burr framed his appearance not as an endorsement of the Saudi regime but as an opportunity for mutual engagement: “They know their reputation. So they were extra friendly. It was a mind-blowing experience… I think it’s going to lead to a lot of positive things.”