Louis C.K.<\/a> on Friday defended his decision to perform at the Riyadh Comedy Festival in Saudi Arabia<\/a>, which has a notoriously poor human rights record<\/a>, amid backlash from <\/span>fans.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cPeople have been playing Saudi Arabia for years,\u201d C.K. told \u201cReal Time\u201d host Bill Maher during an interview at the top of the show<\/a>. \u201cComedians have been going and playing Arab countries, there was a film festival there recently, like, it\u2019s kind of opened up.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n The comedian, who was accused in 2017<\/a> by five separate women of masturbating in front of them without consent \u2014 and became one of the most recognizable faces of the #MeToo movement<\/a> \u2014 described the opportunity to perform in Saudi Arabia as \u201ca positive thing.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n C.K., born Louis Szekely, noted that a lesbian Jewish peer of his received a standing ovation after her set there. C.K. argued that he performs in many other countries with spotty track records, and that potentially easing tensions through comedy could be a net good.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Those tensions emerge from several moments in Saudi Arabia\u2019s recent history: Saudi officials allegedly played a role in the 9\/11 attacks<\/a> in 2001. There was also the assassination of journalist Jamal Khashoggi<\/a> in 2018. Then there are multiple stories of human rights abuses<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n C.K. said Friday that he previously always declined to perform in Arab countries, but revealed the only two restrictions he was given in Riyadh concerned jokes about Islam or the Saudi government. The comedian said he doesn\u2019t have material on either of those subjects.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cIt used to be when I got offers from places like that, there would be a long list, and I\u2019d just say, \u2018No, I don\u2019t need that,\u2019\u201d he said. \u201cBut when I heard it\u2019s opening, I thought, that\u2019s awfully interesting. That just feels like a good opportunity.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n He continued, \u201cAnd I just think comedy is a great way to get in and start talking.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Chris Pizzello\/Invision\/Associated Press<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n Fellow comic Dave Chappelle reportedly joked on stage<\/a> there that \u201cit\u2019s easier to talk here than it is in America,\u201d decrying the so-called \u201ccancel culture\u201d of the U.S. Bill Burr<\/a>, who also performed in Riyadh, said it was one of the \u201ctop three experiences\u201d<\/a> of his life.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n All of them were criticized by fellow comedians<\/a> David Cross and Marc Maron<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cI think the whole discussion is worthy,\u201d C.K. said Friday. \u201cI\u2019m glad these guys brought this stuff up, I\u2019m glad that people are challenging this thing, because you shouldn\u2019t just pretend it\u2019s something it\u2019s not. So don\u2019t fool yourself … I had mixed feelings about it, too.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n 20 Years Of<\/span>Free<\/span>Journalism<\/span><\/p>\n Your Support<\/span>Fuels<\/span>Our Mission<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n Your Support<\/span>Fuels<\/span>Our Mission<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n![\"C.K.](\"https:\/\/img.huffingtonpost.com\/asset\/68e16065180000ef1a5d114b.jpeg?ops=scalefit_720_noupscale&format=webp)
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