After a chorus of comics slammed the lineup of stand-ups participating in Saudi Arabia‘s Riyadh Comedy Festival, Arrested Development alum David Cross is also voicing his staunch disapproval.
In a statement shared to Instagram, the comedian and actor wrote that he’d been asked for his opinion on the matter a number of times and, as a result, decided to put out a public address. Though Cross noted he was not invited to perform, he said “it should go without saying that there’s not enough money for me to help these depraved, awful people put a ‘fun face’ on their crimes against humanity.”
He continued, “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 (unless it’s complaining that we don’t support enough torture and mass executions of journalists and LGBQT peace activists here in the states, or that we don’t terrorize enough Americans by flying planes into our buildings),” he wrote.
Cross added that he felt let down by comedy figures he considered “heroes,” such as Dave Chappelle and Bill Burr. “Clearly you guys don’t give a shit about what the rest of us think, but how can any of us take any of you seriously ever again?” Cross questioned. “All of your bitching about ‘cancel culture’ and ‘freedom of speech’ and all that shit? Done. You don’t get to talk about it ever again. By now we’ve all seen the contract you had to sign.”
He noted in the statement that his colleagues are choosing to perform for “the most oppressive regime on earth. They have SLAVES for fuck’s sake!!!”
“I don’t understand how being rich can make someone such a whore,” he said. “Poor people desperate to improve their (or their families lives), sure. Still not acceptable but I can understand the desperation to put food on the table. But this? I mean, it’s not like this is some commercial for a wireless service or a betting app. This is truly the definition of ‘blood money’. You might as well do commercials for Lockheed Martin or Zyklon B.”
Cross concluded his statement by encouraging his followers to “spend their money on something worthwhile” like donating to the Human Rights Foundation.
Over the weekend, a host of comedians — including Marc Maron and Zach Woods — put their colleagues on blast by mocking the decisions of such figures as Kevin Hart, Aziz Ansari, Louis C.K., Whitney Cummings, Pete Davidson, Zarna Garg and more who are participating in the fest. The comics specifically called out the country’s role in 9/11 and its government-sanctioned assassination of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
“Full disclosure: I was not asked to perform at the Riyadh Comedy Festival, so it’s kind of easy for me to take the high road on this one. Easy to maintain your integrity when no one’s offering to buy it out,” Maron said.
In a satirical promo for the fest, Woods added, “Now there’s a lot drips, killjoys and dweebazoids who say, ‘They shouldn’t do comedy over there because they’re whitewashing a regime that, just in June, killed a journalist, and killed Jamal Khashoggi, and played a big role in 9/11.’ Shut up! Name one comedian who hasn’t whored themself out to a dictator.”
Afterward, comedian Atsuko Okatsuka shared a screenshot of the strict contract she was offered (and turned down) by the festival’s organizers, which included mandated “content restrictions” that prohibited the performance of any material that would “degrade, defame, or bring into public disrepute, contempt, scandal, embarrassment, or ridicule” the Saudi government, royal family and legal system, among other stipulations. Comics Shane Gillis and Mike Birbiglia also declined to appear.
Chairman of the General Entertainment Authority Turki Al-Sheikh, who is behind the festival, has been implicated in several human rights abuses, as reported in The Athletic, which noted that the governmental figure has orchestrated a campaign of repression, including arbitrary detentions, enforced disappearances, and torture.
Human Rights Watch researcher Joey Shea explained to CBS News, “The Saudi government has invested billions into high profile entertainment events like these in a deliberate effort to whitewash the country’s human rights record and deflect from the egregious abuses that continue to happen inside of the country.”
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