Inside the controversial Riyadh event starring comedians Dave Chappelle, Bill Burr, Jack Whitehall and Jimmy Carr

“There were sex jokes and trans jokes. It is really unusual to see such a comedy in Saudi Arabia.”

A former Pat summarized his performances at the first Riyadh Comedy Festival.

“The answer was incredible, I have never seen such enthusiasm,” American stars Dave Chappelle and Bill Burr said.

The woman we call Sara said that comedians avoided discussing Saudi Arabia’s controversial human rights record. But that didn’t bother him especially.

“The people here don’t care about these issues,” he said. “If so, they didn’t live here.”

There are many different perspectives outside Saudi Arabia.

Famous comedians such as Jimmy Carr, Jack Whitehall, Kevin Hart, Russell Peters and Omid Djalili were intensively criticized by artists for agreing to take the stage at the festival. Others say they have turned down the invitations.

But some argued that it was a more nuanced picture. Although human rights groups have a series of concerns about Saudi Arabia, the country has tried to transform its image in recent years.

At the full speed of the festival, we talk to fans and comedians to find out what’s going on on the ground and how people react.

Riyadh Comedy Festival started last weekend. All -Star – and primarily male – sequence.

One of the first fans of the doors was Zain, not the real name. Omid joined Djalili and Bill Burr’s friends and was reserved to see Jimmy Carr next week. The sets contained “blasphemy content” with jokes about gay and trans people.

“The opening action for Bill Burr contained a ten -minute segment about sex.”

Zain, who lives in Riyadh, said that he was shocked for hearing such jokes in a country known as Ultra Conservative. Homosexuality continues to be illegal. According to international lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and intersexes, the country is punishing death for relations of the same sex.

Im I can’t believe what people say these things in Saudi, Z Zain said. “Many people here didn’t stand up without leaving such a clear thing in their lives.”

However, he said the jokes were well received. “In front of me [there was a group] Local Saudi women and they were all laughing. “

According to Sara, Chappelle’s set was also controversial.

He said it was “really unusual” to hear such jokes in the Gulf province. “Very haram,” he said using the word Arabic forbidden.

Zain said that Djalili had fun in the elements of Saudi culture.

“He joked about Niqab and women driving. He also made a sketch about what people in Riyadh think that God was a gift to Earth.”

But Burr looked much more tense and stuck to his wife and his children who were tried and tested.

The participants said that the audience was a wide mixture of Saudi citizens and their old paws and a strong participation.

There is something that was not said then.

The fans we talked to said that the shows “completely avoid any promise from the government in Saudi Arabia.

In front of the festival, Human Rights Monitoring Organization DISCUSSED THE FESTIVAL It was an attempt to “white” the abuse of the Saudi regime.

The group said that Saudi opponents, journalists and human rights activists were unjustly detained.

And he called on everyone who took the stage in Riyadh to use the opportunity to speak on issues such as human rights and free speech.

“I have never seen one of the comedians on the stage, not only on the stage, but on social media or anywhere,” Human Rights Monitoring Organization Saudi Arabia researcher said. He said. “It is very disappointing.”

Komeyan Atsuko Okatsuka said that he rejected his invitation to perform, Quotes shared from a contract This included prohibitions for any material for “disrupting or scribbling the Saudi royal family or religion.

BBC News could not independently confirm the existence of such a contract.

However, British comedian Rosie Holt says it is extremely rare for comedians to receive content restrictions like these.

“I just heard that he was in concerts at universities, like being homophobic or racist,” he said. “But this is not exception.”

The timing of the festival did not disappear in critics.

Between 26 September and 9 October, their dates coincide with the seventh anniversary of the murder Journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Khashoggi was killed while visiting the Saudi Consulate in Türkiye, Istanbul and his body was cut off.

A US Intelligence Report Found The Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman approved the murder. Saudi Arabia rejected this report and effectively rejected any role in the murder of the Crown Prince, the ruler of the kingdom.

“The same man who will pay [the comedians] Paying that man to Kaban-Saw Jamal Khashoggi and him [expletive] Bavul, “said US comic book Marc Maron, Muhammad bin Salman seems to be targeting.

Holt, comedians go to Riyadh and make jokes about the state and “Khashoggi’yi call”, then “I would say to them a fair game – but they won’t do.”

“There is an old word, that comedy speaks the truth to power,” he said. “Many of these comedians became great advocates of free conversation, and went to Saudi Arabia, where free speech is highly reduced.

Alex Falcone, a comedian and tiktokker from LA, admitted that free speech in the USA was also under fire. However, the festival said it was supported by the government that made him the most disturbing.

“There is a difference in performance inside A country and for a country. I wouldn’t have a festival if it was paid by the “Trump Great Man” department.

The general entertainment authority, which announced the festival of Saudi Arabia, did not respond immediately to the request for comments. The Saudi Embassy in London was approached for a comment.

Chappelle, Djalili, Burr, Whitehall and Carr did not respond to BBC News.

Some comedians were clear about what attracted them to Saudi.

“They pay enough money to look at me in another direction,” the US comedian Tim Dillon said in a podcast.

Dillon, who says He was fired Following this podcast appearance, he claimed that he had been offered $ 375,000 ($ 278,000) for set and offered millions of peers.

Others also spoke about big wages.

US star Shane Gillis said At Podcast At the event, he rejected a “important” offer. “I got a principled attitude,” he said.

Other comedians took a dim appearance of their peers to “sell”.

“Nobody will enter a comedy for Paycheque, Hol Holt says.

“The only invited person is already very successful people.” “This was a difficult year for Kevin Hart.”

Comedians and musicians often took the stage in private concerts and corporate parties.

“Difference,” he says, entertainment journalist Natalie Jamieson, “These events tend to not be explained or receive such a promotion. The anger is currently because it is very public.”

In recent years, the only comedians who have received a large amount of money from the Saudi government.

As a nation that is largely dependent on petroes, Saudi Arabia is working to diversify itself economically, socially and culturally.

The Vision 2023 plan, which led by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, includes making money for sectors such as tourism, entertainment and sports.

In recent years, Saudi Arabia has gained host rights for many major international events, including the 2034 Men’s Football World Cup.

Last month, game giant Electronic Arts (EA) Buyed By a consortium ruled by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund. The portfolio of the fund also includes Newcastle United and Liv Golf Franchise.

“There are many people in the West who do not approve, but the people here are really excited about the transformation program.” He said. “Saudi Arabia is trying to be an entertainment center and things like this comedy festival really help. There is a lot of enthusiasm among the young Saudis.”

Speaking at Podcast this week Bill Burr Riyadh defended his performance in the face of reaction.

“The comedians I talk about, ‘dude, you can feel [the audience] I wanted. They want to see the real stand-up comedy ‘he said. “I think it will lead to many positive things.”

It is ready to discuss whether the festival really allows the publication of different perspectives.

Zain acknowledges that the comedians in Riyadh are not going to joke about the state or leaders, as in other places.

“So you can criticize them for that,” he said. However, the arrangement of an event like this helped önüş opening the eyes of the population ”.

“Every Saudi who participated in such a show will learn something. He had gay jokes, trans jokes, sex jokes, and it is really clear about everything except the government.”