Human Rights Organization Rejects Comedian’s Donation Following Saudi Festival

Comedian Aziz Ansari recently defended his participation in the Riyadh Comedy Festival during a late-night television appearance, pledging to donate part of his compensation to “causes that support free press and human rights.”

Human Rights Watch has declined the offer.

Joey Shea, Saudi Arabia researcher at Human Rights Watch, confirmed to media outlets that Ansari hasn’t submitted any donation, but more importantly, the organization wouldn’t accept one from him. They’ve also committed to refusing money from any other comedians who participated in the government-run comedy festival in Saudi Arabia.

Funding Restrictions and Alternative Requests

Shea explained the organization “cannot accept government funding directly or indirectly, and we exercise considerable caution regarding private funding acceptance as well.”

Instead of financial contributions, Human Rights Watch wants comedians to publicly advocate for releasing Saudi human rights defenders, including Manahel al-Otaibi and Waleed Abulkhair, currently imprisoned by authorities.

Shea disclosed her organization privately approached performing comedians, including Ansari, with a list of such defenders’ names, attempting to secure their commitment to highlighting those experiencing persecution.

“We simply believe if you’re performing and accepting Saudi government payment for a state-backed festival, you carry responsibility to mitigate reputation laundering impacts,” Shea stated. “For that purpose, we recommended publicly demanding the release of these Saudi human rights defenders.”

Public Defense of Performance Decision

The late-night host pressed Ansari during their conversation about performing at the event, describing the Saudi government as a “pretty brutal regime” that has “committed numerous horrible acts.”

“People are questioning why you’d go there and accept their payment to perform for these audiences,” the host questioned Ansari. “I’m interested in understanding your decision-making process.”

“There are individuals there who oppose government actions, and attributing the government’s worst conduct onto those people isn’t just,” Ansari responded, adding he had thoroughly contemplated the decision.

Governmental Background

The nation functions under an Islamic regime primarily led by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who faces numerous human rights violation allegations, including the 2018 state-orchestrated murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. He has rejected any participation in the killing.

Representatives for Ansari have been approached for further commentary.

Upcoming Entertainment Controversies

Another Saudi Arabia-related controversy may emerge in December, when Soundstorm, a music festival in Riyadh, takes place. Post Malone and Benson Boone are presently booked as headlining acts.

The situation underscores the challenging ethical dilemmas entertainers confront when considering performances in nations with problematic human rights records, especially for government-sponsored events. While performers might contend they’re connecting with audiences separate from governmental policies, human rights organizations stress the significance of utilizing such platforms to champion imprisoned activists and dissidents rather than merely collecting payment.

The controversy also raises broader questions about “reputation laundering”—how authoritarian regimes use entertainment events and celebrity appearances to improve their international image while continuing to suppress domestic dissent. Human rights advocates argue that performers who accept such engagements without speaking out about political prisoners effectively become complicit in these public relations efforts, regardless of their intentions or subsequent charitable donations.