I was surprised to read that Weird Al said he turned down a seven-figure offer to perform at the Riyadh Comedy Festival last year — he even noted it was more than he’s ever been offered for one show, but he “just couldn’t be part of that.” He also stressed he isn’t dissing anyone who went, but he won’t take money that makes him feel “icky,” and he doesn’t need to if it conflicts with his conscience.
The festival, which was state‑sponsored and happened last fall, featured big names like Dave Chappelle, Bill Burr, Louis C.K., Pete Davidson and Aziz Ansari and pretty much split the comedy world. Critics including Marc Maron, Jimmy Kimmel and David Cross slammed it for its ties to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and the murder of Jamal Khashoggi; some performers like Atsuko Okatsuka and Shane Gillis publicly said they turned down offers, with Okatsuka citing content restrictions and human‑rights concerns.
Others who accepted defended their choices, saying bringing comedy there could open doors — Ansari, Burr, C.K. and Chappelle framed it as an opportunity to reach people. Reports at the time said pay ranged from mid‑six‑figures up to about $1.6 million for one show, and for now it’s unclear whether the Riyadh Comedy Festival will come back in 2026.