Louis CK reasons his decision to perform at Riyadh Comedy Festival, explains why he thinks it's "awfully interesting" and a "good opportunity"

During an October 3 appearance on Real Time with Bill Maher, Louis CK revealed why he decided to take part in the controversial Riyadh Comedy Festival. The Riyadh Comedy Festival which began on September 26 and is supposed to run till October 9, is a part of Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 initiative.

While talking about his first reaction after hearing of the festival, Louis said,

"But when I heard it’s opening, I thought, that’s awfully interesting. That just feels like a good opportunity. And I just feel like comedy is a great way to get in and start talking."

The festival featured over 50 globally recognized comedians including Kevin Hart, Bill Burr, Dave Chappelle, Pete Davidson and more despite Human Rights Watch's news release which billed the festival as a distraction of the country's ongoing human rights violations against free speech.

While defending his participation, Louis CK mentioned,

"When I'm talking to the other comedians who have been there, they've been really surprised by what's going on. There's a woman who's a lesbian and Jewish, who did a show there, and she got a standing ovation. So, there's stuff going on that's unexpected in this thing.

He also added,

"People have been playing Saudi Arabia for years. Comedians have been going and playing Arab countries. There was this film festival there recently, it's kind of opened up. But I've always said no to Arab countries."

"I don't have jokes about those two things" - Louis CK opens up about the restrictions at Riyadh Comedy Festival

While defending his participation at the Riyadh Comedy Festival, comedian Louis CK noted that there were two restrictions at the festival and comedians were barred from making jokes about the religion and government,

"And when this came up, they said there's only two restrictions - their religion and their government, I don't have jokes about those two things. It used to be when I got offers from places like that, there would be a long list, and I'd just say, 'No, I don't need that.'

Louis CK thought the festival was a "good opportunity" and comedy is "great way to get in and start talking."

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The comedy festival has gained crticisim from comedians such as Marc Maron and Shane Gills who criticized participating comedians. The Human Rights Watch, in a news release, accused the Saudi government of using the festival to whitewash abuse of journalists such as Jamal Khashoggi. Jamal Khashoggi, a Saudi dissident journalist and critic of the government, was killed by Saudi agents in October 2018.

However, despite widespread criticism, comedians like Pete Davidson and more mentioned that they were happy to look the other way for the right price.

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