Overview
- Dave Chappelle defended performing at Saudi Arabia’s 2025 Riyadh Comedy Festival in a new NPR interview.
- He said he first declined earlier invitations after Jamal Khashoggi’s killing, then changed his mind as U.S. government and Hollywood deals with Saudi Arabia expanded.
- He argued critics enforce a double standard when a Black performer accepts Saudi money, saying the backlash felt selective.
- He said no one’s money is fully clean and pointed to everyday items like cars, food and cellphones that rely on harmful sources.
- The festival ran from late September to early October 2025 with big-name comics including Bill Burr, Pete Davidson and Aziz Ansari, and it drew sharp criticism from peers such as David Cross, Shane Gillis and Adam Carolla.