It's a headliner comedy festival that has copped significant backlash for what one human rights organisation says is "whitewashing" of a "brutal repression of free speech". b
The Riyadh Comedy Festival, taking place this September and October in Saudi Arabia, stars a blockbuster list of A-list comedians.
But others have been left "disgusted, and deeply disappointed".
Here's what you need to know.
What is the Riyadh Comedy Festival?
The festival is a two-week celebration in Saudi Arabia's capital, boasting a stacked line-up of international comics.
The A-list names include former SNL star Pete Davidson, popular British comedian and host Jimmy Carr, and film star Chris Tucker.
Others like Bill Burr, Kevin Hart, Jimeoin and Jack Whitehall will also appear.
Louis CK — who found himself at the centre of the #MeToo movement after five women came forward with allegations of sexual misconduct in 2017 — also features in the line-up.
As does fellow comic Aziz Ansari, who also faced sexual misconduct allegations in 2019, while Dave Chappelle — also performing — has faced criticism for his jokes about the transgender community.
It is being spearheaded by Saudi Vision 2030, a plan to set the nation up as a "premier global tourism destination" in the next five years.
Fellow comics 'deeply disappointed'
Despite dozens performing, other comedians have come out to criticise their fellow stand-ups ahead of the festival.
Marc Maron wasn't asked to perform and said it was "easy to maintain your integrity when no-one's offering to buy it out".
However, Maron said, he struggled to see how it would be pitched.
"From the folks that bought you 9/11, two weeks of laughter in the desert," he said.
"The same guy that's gonna pay them is the same guy that paid that guy to bone saw Jamal Khashoggi and put him in a f***ing suitcase.
"But don't let that stop the yucks, it's gonna be a good time."
Maron was referring to US-based journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
Mr Khashoggi, a critic of Saudi Arabia's government, was killed in 2018 after walking into a Saudi consulate in Istanbul.
A later UN report found there was "credible evidence" that Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and other high-level officials were individually liable for his killing.
Saudi officials have denied Prince Salman — who launched Saudi Vision 2030 — was involved in Mr Khashoggi's death.
Arrested Development star David Cross said he was "disgusted and deeply disappointed" by the comedians performing.
"That people I admire, with unarguable talent, would condone this totalitarian fiefdom for … what, a fourth house? A boat? More sneakers?" he wrote in a statement.
"Name one comedian who hasn't whored themselves out to a dictator," Office star Zach Woods jokingly said on TikTok about the line-up.
What do we know about the offers?
Those who were offered a spot have also given glimpses into the festival's workings.
Atsuko Okatsuka said she was offered the gig back in July, but would have to adhere to "censorship rules".
She posted what she said were the content restrictions attached, including that artists couldn't perform material that could "degrade" or "defame" The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and its leaders, the Saudi royal family, and any religion or any religious figure.
Okatsuka didn't accept.
Shane Gillis said he was offered a significant amount of money to perform.
"It was a significant bag, but I'd already said no," he said.
Tim Dillon said he was offered $US 375,000 ($569,000) for a show, with others reportedly getting as much as $US1.6 million.
"They're paying me enough money to look the other way," he said on August 31.
Last week, Dillon said he had since been fired for joking about Saudi's slave labour accusations.
Meanwhile, Chris Distefano — who is still set to perform — said his partner told him "you're going to take that f***ing money".
What are the free speech concerns?
Non-profit Human Rights Watch said the festival was Saudi's attempt to "deflect attention from its brutal repression of free speech and other pervasive human rights violation".
"Comedians performing in Riyadh should speak out against Saudi Arabia's serious rights abuses or they risk bolstering the Saudi government's well-funded efforts to launder its image," Saudi Arabia researcher at Human Rights Watch Joey Shea said in a statement.
"This whitewashing comes amid significant increase in repression, including a crackdown on free speech, which many of these comedians defend, but people in Saudi Arabia are completely denied."
Whitewashing refers to an attempt to stop people finding out the true facts about a situation.
A 2024 US Department of State report found "credible reports" that Saudi authorities "routinely abused the cybercrimes law and the counterterrorism law to restrict freedom of expression".
This included prosecution under these laws related to statements made on social media, it added.
Amnesty International found those facing free speech cases were often subjected to arbitrary arrest, unfair trials leading to lengthy prison terms, and travel bans.
In 2023, dual US-Saudi citizen Saad Ibrahim Almadi was sentenced to 16 years in prison for tweets critical of the government.
He was later released in 2023.
Manahel al-Otaibi, 30, was sentenced to 11 years in jail in a secret trial in January for "terrorism offences" relating to social media posts in support of women's rights.
