Ryan Seacrest is drawing backlash after appearing as a keynote speaker at a government-sponsored entertainment summit in Saudi Arabia.
Critics have accused the WOF host of aligning with a regime widely condemned for human rights abuses.
Seacrest took the stage at Joy Forum 2025, a major event held in Riyadh and organized by Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority.
The event is part of the country’s Vision 2030 plan to grow its entertainment sector and soften its global image.
It was chaired by Turki Alalshikh, a close aide to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Reaction online was swift and mostly critical.
“That man will do literally anything for a check,” one Reddit user wrote.”I’m not shocked.”
Another wrote, “Sell out.”
The Joy Forum promotes itself as a global meeting point for media executives.
But rights groups have criticized such efforts as image rehab for a country accused of stifling dissent and targeting journalists.
Human Rights Watch said Saudi Arabia uses high-profile events “to deflect attention from brutal repression of free speech and other pervasive human rights violations.”
Alalshikh, seen as one of the Crown Prince’s key advisers, used the event to announce new deals in entertainment.
These included a partnership with Warner Music and Atlantic Records, as well as upcoming projects with basketball Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal.
The country also revealed plans to host WrestleMania 2027, a first outside the United States, and launch a global boxing league with UFC President Dana White.
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O’Neal, who has worked with the Kingdom before, is viewed as a high-profile Western figure promoting Saudi Arabia’s entertainment ambitions.
His involvement has faced scrutiny alongside Seacrest’s.
“Ryan Seacrest and Shaq would promote state-sanctioned murder if they got a check for it,” one Reddit user commented.
Earlier this fall, the Riyadh Comedy Festival sparked a similar wave of criticism for booking U.S. comedians despite Saudi Arabia’s tight controls on speech.
The event featured performers like Bill Burr and Pete Davidson. Their participation shocked some fans.
“Sometimes in order to fight the power, you need to be paid by the power,” comedian Vinny Thomas wrote on X.
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.the-express.com ’
