Dave Chappelle made free speech in America the punchline over the weekend while performing in Saudi Arabia, a country known for its controversial human rights record.
The comedian — in a set before 6,000 people at the Riyadh Comedy Festival on Saturday — reportedly began the joke by declaring that those in the U.S. who speak about Charlie Kirk will “get canceled,” a nod to the flood of people who faced consequences following the right-wing activist’s assassination.
“I don’t know if that’s true, but I’m gonna find out,” said Chappelle, who has faced backlash of his own for anti-trans jokes in recent years.
He later went on, “It’s easier to talk here than it is in America.”
Chappelle is one of a number of comedians facing backlash from fellow comics and fans alike for taking part in the festival, which is occurring at the same time as the seventh anniversary of the killing of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi.
Pete Davidson, Kevin Hart, Aziz Ansari, Louis C.K. and Gabriel Iglesias are among other big names who were set to perform.
Human rights advocates and groups have ripped those involved in the fest. Human Rights Watch called the event an attempt to whitewash the Saudi government’s “serious rights abuses.”
At least one comedian who turned down an invite to perform, Atsuko Okatsuka, revealed that her offer outlined “content restrictions” that called on comics not to perform material that would degrade Saudi Arabia, the Saudi royal family and any religion, religious tradition or practice.
Bill Burr — who is among the comedians facing backlash for performing in Riyadh — defended the move, telling the “Monday Morning Podcast” earlier this week that it was a “mind-blowing experience.”
“I had to stop a couple times during the show and say, ‘I’ll be honest with you guys, I cannot fucking believe any of you have any idea who I am,’” he recalled.
“It was just this great exchange of energy. They know their reputation. So they were extra friendly.”
He continued, “The royals loved the show. Everyone was happy. The people that were doing the festival were thrilled.”