Dave Chappelle said he had more ‘free speech’ to make jokes about Charlie Kirk while performing at the Riyadh Comedy Festival in Saudi Arabia.
The legendary comic said: ‘Right now in America, they say that if you talk about Charlie Kirk, that you’ll get canceled.
Social media referred to the comedian as ‘soulless’ and a hypocrite for performing in front of the Saudi royals.
‘Dave Chappelle who went to Africa to avoid his show becoming a soulless grab for a millionaire and Dave Chappelle now are not the same guys,’ wrote one.
Others dared him to take on the likes of Saudi Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman for the brutal 2018 murder of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
‘Dave Chappelle should try telling a joke about MBS bonesawing a journalist and report back how that goes,’ said Armand Domalewski.
One reporter said: ‘Saudi law makes it illegal to ‘challenge[], either directly or indirectly, the religion or justice of the King or Crown Prince. Also illegal: ‘any attempt to cast doubt on the fundamentals of Islam.”
Pollster Frank Luntz added: ‘Dave Chappelle said “it’s easier to talk here than it is in America” at a comedy festival in Riyadh where comedians had to contractually agree not to tell jokes about Saudi leadership or religion.’
Dave Chappelle shocked the controversial Riyadh Comedy Festival by saying he felt freer to make jokes ‘targeting’ Charlie Kirk in Saudi Arabia that at home in America
The legendary comic said: ‘Right now in America, they say that if you talk about Charlie Kirk, that you’ll get canceled’
Fellow performer Bill Burr confirmed on his podcast earlier this week that comics had negotiated with the government to make it so that they could say anything they wanted, except for ‘the royals and religion.’
Chappelle, who converted to Islam when he was 17, was apparently unmoved by any potential outrage.
‘I don’t know if that’s true, but I’m gonna find out,’ Chappelle added to a crowd of 6,000 people in Riyadh. ‘It’s easier to talk here than it is in America.’
Chappelle even said he feared reprisal over material critical of Israel’s response in Gaza to the October 7 terror attack.
‘They’re going to do something to me so that I can’t say what I want to say,’ Chappelle said.
The audience appeared to take notice at the comedian’s material.
‘I found it so interesting to hear political jokes targeting Trump and Charlie Kirk,’ one person in attendance said of the comic’s set.
The comic, who has often spoken of being canceled over his stances on transgender rights, also criticized the suspension of ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel, The New York Times reported.
Social media referred to the comedian as ‘soulless’ and a hypocrite for performing in front of the Saudi royals
The festival – which has booked major acts like Chappelle, Louis CK, Kevin Hart and Bill Burr – has drawn the ire of many for taking the repressive Saudi kingdom’s money while complaining of ‘cancel culture’ at home.
Some comedians have pulled out of the festival or been removed by the organizers due to criticism of the Saudi government.
Comedian Tim Dillon bragged he is being paid $375,000 for his appearance, and claimed some of his rivals were pocketing up to $1.6million.
‘I am doing this,’ he said, ‘because they’re paying me a large sum of money – enough money to look the other way.
‘A lot of people are doing it. They [the Saudis] bought comedy. So what? Listen, what’s your problem? ‘Well, they have slaves and they kill everyone…’ Hey, get over it. Do I have issues with some of the policies towards women, towards the gays? Well, of course I do… But I believe in my own financial well-being and I always have.’
Dillon, who is gay, was later dropped for making jokes about migrant workers in Saudi Arabia.
Australian comedian Jim Jeffries was also removed from the festival after making critical comments on Theo Von’s podcast.
Bill Burr, who performed at the festival, defended his appearance and praised the atmosphere.
The festival – which has booked major acts like Chappelle, Louis CK, Kevin Hart and Bill Burr – has drawn the ire of many for taking the repressive Saudi kingdom’s money while complaining of ‘ cancel culture ‘ at home
US comedian Tim Dillon bragged he is being paid $375,000 for his appearance, and claimed some of his rivals were pocketing up to $1.6million
‘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,’ Burr said on his podcast.
‘The royals loved the show. Everyone was happy. The people that were doing the festival were thrilled. The comedians that I’ve been talking to are saying, ‘Dude, you can feel [the audience] wanted it. They want to see real stand-up comedy.’ It was a mind-blowing experience. Definitely top three experiences I’ve had. I think it’s going to lead to a lot of positive things.’
Burr said that the rules had been negotiated by the comics down to two taboos: ‘Don’t make fun of royals [and] religion.’
Comedian and former Arrested Development star David Cross has lambasted the comics who chose to perform at the festival in an open letter.
‘I am disgusted and deeply disappointed in this whole gross thing, that people I admire, with unarguable talent, would condone this totalitarian fiefdom for … what, a fourth house? A boat? More sneakers? We can never again take seriously anything these comedians complain about.’
The festival is taking place from September 26 to October 9, 2025, at Boulevard City in Riyadh.
Bin Salman, Saudi Arabia’s de facto ruler, has been eager to rehabilitate his global image after the killing of Khashoggi, which U.S. intelligence officials accused him of ordering.
He’s also seeking an economic revival for the kingdom to reduce its reliance on fossil fuels, and the occasion was an opportunity to demonstrate that the floodgates for investment were open again.
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