‘A Great Way to Get in and Start Talking’

Louis C.K. defended his and other comedians’ decision to perform at the controversial Riyadh Comedy Festival in Saudi Arabia amid a wave of criticism from fellow comics.

Appearing on Real Time With Bill Maher Friday ahead of his scheduled Riyadh set on Monday, C.K. said he initially had “mixed feelings” about taking the gig, and that he previously turned down opportunities to perform in Arab countries due to censorship concerns. However, he said Saudi Arabia has “kind of opened up.”

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“I’ve always said no to Arab countries,” C.K. said (via The Hollywood Reporter). “When this came up, they said there’s only two restrictions; their religion and their government, and 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.’ 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 comedian added, “I’ve been talking to them, the comedians who’ve been there, and 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.”

Earlier this week, comics like David Cross, Shane Gillis, Marc Maron, Atsuko Okatsuka, and more publicly criticized the comedians — including Dave Chappelle, Pete Davidson, Bill Burr, Kevin Hart, and more — who opted to perform at the Riyadh Comedy Festival.

“The money is coming straight from the Crown Prince, who actively executes journalists, ppl with nonlethal drug offenses, bloggers, etc without due process,” Okatsuka wrote on social media. Maron quipped that the festival was presented “from the folks that brought you 9/11.”

On Real Time, C.K. said of the controversy, “I think the whole discussion is worthy. I’m glad these guys brought this stuff up, I’m glad that people are challenging this thing, because you shouldn’t just pretend it’s something it’s not.”

“I had mixed feelings about it too,” C.K. added. “I struggled about going once I heard what everybody was saying. There’s some good in it, maybe some bad in it. But for me, I think it cuts toward going. That’s my decision, and I know where it’s coming from, because I can see right inside myself.”

Bill Burr previously called his Riyadh performance “a mind-blowing experience. Definitely top three experiences I’ve ever had.”

“The royals loved the show. Everyone was happy. The people that were doing the festival were thrilled,” Burr said. “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. I think it’s going to lead to a lot of positive things.”

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