The Saudi Press Agency promoted the event as:
“The festival is the largest of its kind globally, bringing together a selection of award-winning comedy stars known for their outstanding performances on international stages and streaming platforms. It reflects the efforts to amplify Riyadh’s status as a leading destination for major cultural and artistic events.”
But critics say the festival is a textbook case of “comedy-washing”—using stand-up to launder Saudi Arabia’s image while sidestepping its human rights abuses, crackdowns on free speech, reliance on desperate “canceled” or openly transphobic comedians, and its ties to the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi on October 2, 2018.
The CIA later concluded that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the driving force behind Vision 2030, personally approved Khashoggi’s assassination.
Joey Shea, Saudi Arabia researcher for Human Rights Watch, condemned the timing in a statement:
“The seventh anniversary of Jamal Khashoggi's brutal murder is no laughing matter, and comedians receiving hefty sums from Saudi authorities shouldn't be silent on prohibited topics in Saudi like human rights or free speech.”
The killing of Khashoggi, a Washington Post columnist, shocked the world and drew rare bipartisan condemnation in the United States. His murder remains a defining symbol of Saudi Arabia’s repression, and deciding to host a comedy festival on its anniversary is especially jarring.
Citing the hypocrisy, comedian David Cross unloaded on his peers in a fiery statement on social media:
“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?”
So, how much are comedians making? Fired Riyadh comedian Tim Dillon admitted he would’ve earned $375,000, while others could command up to $1.6 million.
On his August 30 podcast, Dillon shrugged off the backlash:
“They're paying me enough to look the other way… Do I have issues with some of the policies towards women, towards the gays … towards the freedom of speech? Well, of course I do, but I believe in my own financial well-being.”
But the Arrested Development actor wasn’t having it:
“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? 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.”
That contract reportedly comes with strict censorship rules. Comedian Atsuko Okatsuka shared that she declined an invitation after reading an offer that explicitly prohibited material critical of Saudi Arabia, the royal family, or religious figures.
Cross pushed further:
“I mean, how do you even promote that? ‘From the folks that brought you 9/11. Two weeks of laughter in the desert, don’t miss it!'"
You can view his entire statement below:
He’s not alone. Shane Gillis revealed on his Secret Podcast that he turned down a lucrative offer, saying, “I took a principled stand. You don’t 9/11 your friends.” Marc Maron also mocked the festival in a stand-up set, quipping that it was easy for him to “take the high road” since he hadn’t been invited.
And the awkwardly lovable Office star Zach Woods weighed in on Instagram with his own video critique:
On social media, many users rallied behind Cross, praising him for saying what others in the industry lacked the integrity—and frankly, the guts—to do. Others, however, pointed out the hypocrisy of criticizing Saudi Arabia while overlooking the United States’ own human rights record.
Spoiler alert: it’s not exactly stellar either.
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Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia has rapidly expanded its entertainment industry under Vision 2030. In just a decade, the kingdom has gone from banning concerts to hosting raves and booking stars like Jennifer Lopez and Justin Bieber. Movie theaters, film festivals, and major sporting events—including the 2034 FIFA World Cup—are now pillars of its global rebrand.
But Joey Shea warns these flashy spectacles are less about reform than distraction. Rather than being remembered as a country that murders dissidents, Saudi Arabia wants to recast itself as a land of concerts, comedy festivals, and international partnerships.
For comedians who once claimed to champion free speech, that punchline lands flat.
Like many women, Milano felt pressured to conform to beauty standards—in her case, with breast implants. After sporting them for several decades and never feeling truly like herself, she decided to reclaim her body and her identity.
She wrote in the caption:
"Today, I’m releasing those false narratives, the parts of me that were never actually parts of me."
"I’m letting go of the body that was sexualized, that was abused, that I believed was necessary for me to be attractive; to be loved; to be successful; to be happy."
"And in doing so, I hope I am releasing my daughter Bella from ever feeling those same unhealthy demands."
"Now, I want to be clear that many women will find freedom and beauty in choosing their implants. What is a false narrative for me may be the exact right thing for them, and I am so happy that we can all find our femininity and peace on our own terms."
"I’m also tremendously inspired by women like Michelle Visage who have been open and public about their relationships with their breast implants, making it easier for me and countless others to find our own way."
"Today I am loved, I am feminine, I am attractive, and I am successful. None of that is because of my implants. I will still be all of those things when I wake up, and they are gone."
"There is so much joy in that knowledge and freedom in letting go of what was never me in the first place."
"Today, I’m my authentic self. Today, I’m free."
Milano also later edited the caption to include a sweet little update:
"Update: I’m cozy in my bed, eating the food my mama made me. Thank you for all the kind words. I appreciate the support."
You can see the post here:
Fans were supportive of Milano's decision and cheered her on.
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There's nothing quite as empowering as doing something that makes you feel true to yourself. And Milano not only empowered herself—she set an example for other women who might feel pressured to look "the part" that the world expects them to fulfill.
Norwood's creator, actor, comedian and apparent traitor to her own craft Eline Van der Velden, made quite a splash at the Zurich Film Festival where she unveiled Norwood.
But Norwood's real-life colleagues? They are absolutely not having it.
After Van Der Velden claimed that some of the hottest agencies in Los Angeles were hotly pursuing Norwood as the next big thing, several of today's hottest young things in Hollywood took to social media to excoriate everyone involved.
In an Instagram Story, actor Melissa Barrera, best known for the more recent films in the Scream franchise, wrote:
“Hope all actors repped by the agent that does this, drop their a$."
"How gross, read the room.”
Actor Kiersey Clemons, known for playing Iris West in Justice League and The Flash, as well as the 2015 indie favorite Dope, responded to Barrera's post by saying:
“Out the agents. I want names.”
Former child star and writer Mara Wilson responded with probably the most salient pushback:
“And what about the hundreds of living young women whose faces were composited together to make her? You couldn’t hire any of them?"
Of course, the announcement of Norwood generated lots of jokes, too, including from celebrities themselves like White Lotus star Lukas Gage, who said Norwood was a "nightmare to work with," and actress Trace Lysette, who accused Norwood of cutting the lunch line on set.
Social media was also full of jokes that made clear that not only is nobody buying Tilly Norwood but nobody wants this kind of content in the first place.
Many also pointed out that Norwood isn't even convincingly human (at least not yet, anyway).
Anyway, amid the uproar, Van Der Velden took to Instagram to post on Norwood's behalf to address the controversy, and suffice to say the statement is as poorly executed as Norwood herself.
In the statement, Van Der Velden claimed:
"[Norwood] is not a replacement for a human being, but a creative work..."
The only problem with this statement, Ms. Van Der Velden, is that that is exactly what she is, in the exact same way that, say, the laptop and internet on which I'm typing this are replacements for the typewriter and printing press.
But one commenter on the statement summed the whole thing up perfectly:
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Instagram user @thesinkingcanoe wrote:
"If she really was just an art piece, you wouldn’t be trying to get her an agent."
Yeah, nice try, Ms. Van Der Velden.
