Overview
- Weird Al Yankovic disclosed that he turned down at least a seven-figure offer to perform at the state-backed Riyadh Comedy Festival because accepting the money made him feel “icky.”
- The festival, held last fall, featured U.S. headliners who accepted large paychecks while some comedians publicly refused to take part.
- Reporting at the time estimated performer fees ranged from mid-six figures to about $1.6 million for a single show, creating strong financial pressure on acts weighing whether to participate.
- Comedian Atsuko Okatsuka posted that offers included content restrictions banning jokes about the government, legal system, or religious customs, and several comics cited such limits when declining.
- The disclosure deepens an ongoing industry debate over engagement with government-funded cultural events and leaves the festival’s future and reputational fallout uncertain.