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Dave Chappelle faces backlash after claiming free speech is easier in Saudi Arabia than the US at the Riyadh Comedy Festival, sparking criticism from Bill Maher and others online.
Dave Chappelle. (File/AFP)
Comedian Dave Chappelle is facing backlash online after criticising free speech in the US during his live set at the Riyadh Comedy Festival in Saudi Arabia.
Some of the world’s most famous comedians are set to perform at the Riyadh Comedy Festival in Saudi Arabia. However, the comedians on the list were already under intense criticism for their performances, making the festival a cultural hot spot before it kicked off.
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Under its “Vision 2030″ initiative, Saudi Arabia is boosting its cultural profile to diversify the economy and position the kingdom as a global cultural hub. The strategy was first unveiled nearly a decade ago by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
“Right now in America, they say that if you talk about Charlie Kirk, that you’ll get cancelled,” Chappelle, the festival’s main performer, stated during his performance, as per the New York Times. “I don’t know if that’s true, but I’m gonna find out,” the comedian continued.
“It’s easier to talk here than it is in America,” he added.
Kirk, 31, was fatally shot while delivering a speech at Utah Valley University on September 10. His death sent shockwaves nationwide and reignited the ongoing debate over free speech in the United States.
Online users swiftly responded negatively to Chappelle’s humour. In reaction, photographer Madhu Menon commented on X, “Is there a more textbook example of irony?” while author Adnan Belushi added that Chappelle is “Projecting his privileged experience.”
In a post on X, Gary Producer Michael Walters wrote: “C’mon Dave Chappelle! I’m a fan, but seriously suggesting people have more free speech rights in Saudi Arabia than America is ass kissing to the extreme. That must have been a FAT check!!!”
Bill Maher also hit back at Chappelle for stating that he can speak more freely in Saudi Arabia than in America.
Saudi Arabia
October 04, 2025, 20:49 IST
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