Dave Chapelle Critiques Free Speech in the U.S. at Saudi Comedy Festival

This past Saturday, during the Riad Comedy Festival in Saudi Arabia, Dave Chapelle took a moment to address the state of free speech in the United States, addressing an audience of about 6,000 attendees.

Chapelle remarked, “In America now, if you talk about Charlie Kirk, they say it’s cancelled. I don’t know if that’s true or not, but I’ll find out.” He pointedly suggested that discussing certain topics had become more difficult back home.

“It’s easier to talk here than in America,” he added, underscoring his feelings about the contrasting environments.

During his performance, he also mentioned Israeli actions in the Gaza Strip. Candidly, Chapelle expressed concerns about returning to the U.S., saying, “They are going to do something to me so that I can’t say what I want to say.”

He was among over 50 performers participating in the festival, which had faced criticism for being hosted in a nation with a contentious human rights record and a reputation for oppressive governance.

Fellow comedian Bill Barr expressed pride in being part of the event, stating, “It was great to experience that part of the world and be part of Saudi Arabia’s first comedy festival.” He noted that both audiences and festival organizers seemed thrilled with the show.

Reflecting on the atmosphere, Barr shared, “The Royals loved the show. Everyone was happy. The comedian I was talking to said, ‘Hey, you can feel [the audience] wanted it. They want to see real stand-up comedy.’ It was an amazing experience.” He described it as one of his top three experiences, hinting at the potential for positive outcomes from the event.