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comedian whitney cummings Is defending her and fellow comedians’ performance on the controversial issue Riyadh Comedy Festival in Saudi Arabia.
With Cummings, the event – held from 26 September to 9 October – Many prominent comedians starredIncluding Dave Chappelle, Pete Davidson, Kevin Hart, Louis CK, Jimmy Carr and Jack Whitehall. However, these artists were labeled “sellouts” for participating in a Saudi state-sponsored event following the death of journalist Turki al-Jassir, and as Saudi authorities are imposing Long jail sentence for social media posts.
Now, Cummings is defending her performance at the event and specifically addressing the backlash.
“I think I’m so strange. You know, I don’t operate under the idea that every government and their people are the same… You think the people of Saudi Arabia and the Saudi government are all the same [share the same values]The 43-year-old actress said during Sunday’s episode of her podcast, good for you“So you also believe that the Chinese government and the Chinese people are exactly the same?”
“It’s just racism,” she continued. “I think it took me a second, because when people say, ‘You’re doing something unethical,’ I think, ‘Oh, these must be ethical people, let me hear.’ And then you’re like, ‘Oh no, you’re just racist.’ These are the same people who will say, ‘Trump is not my president!’ I’m nothing like our President. But there are other countries?”
He addressed how other comics called comedians at the festival “sellouts”, and explained why he felt the reaction was hypocritical.
He said, “When you get a second, Google ‘Saudi Arabia Live Nation’ to inform you of the fact that every stand-up comic who has worked with Live Nation has taken money from Saudi Arabia.” “Or bought a ticket through Live Nation, went to a Live Nation event, all the artists who are represented by the William Morris Agency, which is all of them. If you want to send them notes too.”
His comments come later Human Rights Watch The Riyadh Comedy Festival was described as Saudi Arabia’s “latest attempt to divert attention from its brutal repression of free speech and other widespread human rights violations.”
Organization even urged someone Participating in using their platform to speak out, particularly on issues such as human rights and freedom of expression As Saudi Arabia experiences a reported increase in executions For non-fatal and drug-related crimes.
comedian david crossThose who said they were not asked to perform at the festival shared a statement on Instagram to criticize the event: “I am disappointed, and deeply disappointed, by this whole wretched thing. People I admire, with undeniable talent, will forgive this totalitarian fiefdom… What, a fourth house? A boat? More sneakers?”
He added, “We can never take these comedians’ complaints seriously (unless the complaint is that we don’t support enough harassment and mass executions of journalists and LGBQT peace activists here in the States, or that we don’t terrorize enough Americans by flying planes into their buildings).
talking to BBC NewsComedy fans attending the show said they were surprised to hear that several comics included “profane material” in their sets, such as jokes about gay and trans people.
One attendee said Chappelle made a lot of jokes about transgender people, for which he has been criticized beforeWhereas omid jalili Elements of Saudi culture such as women driving were poked fun at.
During his performance, Chappelle also chose to comment about freedom speech in america,
“Right now in America, they say if you talk about Charlie Kirk, your show will be canceled. I don’t know if that’s true or not, but I’ll find out,” he said, referring to the 31-year-old right-wing political activist who was shot and killed during a rally at Utah Valley University last month.
He added, “It’s easier to talk here than in America.”
Chappelle later said he was worried about returning to the United States because “they’re going to do something to me so I can’t say what I want to say.”
The comedy festival comes just months after the Saudi regime executed journalist al-Jasser for “high treason.” He was jailed in 2018 and sentenced to death on charges of terrorism and high treason. These allegations stem from articles written on his blog And in a newspaper.