Joshua Goldman
Joshua Goldman
min read · October 10, 2025 · Entertainment

Aziz Ansari's Saudi Comedy Payback: Human Rights Donation Rejected

Aziz Ansari's plans to donate part of his fee from a controversial comedy festival in Saudi Arabia to a human rights organization were denied on Thursday; pictured October 2 in London

AZIZ ANSARI'S LATEST CONTROVERSY: Comedian's Attempts to Clean Up Image After Performing at Saudi Arabia Comedy Festival Backfire

In a move that has left many in the comedy world scratching their heads, Aziz Ansari attempted to salvage his reputation after performing at the Riyadh Comedy Festival in Saudi Arabia. However, his efforts have been met with disappointment and criticism from human rights groups.

Ansari, who was one of several high-profile comedians to take the stage at the festival, had announced on Jimmy Kimmel Live that he would be donating a portion of his fee to organizations such as Human Rights Watch and Reporters Without Borders. However, in a stunning turn of events, Human Rights Watch has revealed that it will not accept Ansari's donation.

After performing at the Riyadh Comedy Festival, Ansari, 42, said he would donate part of his fee to Human Rights Watch, but the organization said Thursday it 'cannot accept' his money in a statement to Variety; an installation at the Riyadh Comedy Festival in Saudi Arabia is pictured

According to Joey Shea, a researcher focused on Saudi Arabia at Human Rights Watch, the organization is declining the donation because it wants to maintain its independence and objectivity. "We have been critical of the comedians who performed in Saudi Arabia because of the government's human rights record," said Shea. "Taking their money could create the perception that we compromised our independence after the fact."

But that's not all - several other comedians, including Pete Davidson, Dave Chappelle, and Louis CK, have come under fire for participating in the festival. Many have spoken out against the performers, accusing them of profiting from a regime with a dismal human rights record.

Jessica Kirson, another comedian who performed at the festival, has also expressed regret over her decision to participate. "I hoped that this could help LGBTQ+ people in Saudi Arabia feel seen and valued," she said in a statement. "But I deeply regret participating under the auspices of the Saudi government."

HRW said it would reject Ansari's donation so as to avoid the impression that it had been influenced by Saudi Arabia, as Riyadh Comedy Festival performers were paid directly by the government

The controversy surrounding Ansari's performance is just the latest chapter in a long-running saga of comedians facing backlash for their decision to perform in countries with questionable human rights records.

The Riyadh Comedy Festival: A Platform for Human Rights Abuses?

The Riyadh Comedy Festival, which took place last month, was attended by several high-profile comedians, including Kevin Hart and Bill Burr. However, the event has been widely criticized for its connection to the Saudi government, which has a long history of human rights abuses.

HRW instead called on the performers — include Pete Davidson, Dave Chappelle, Louis CK, Bill Burr and Kevin Hart — to 'call for the release of detained Saudi activists'

In September, Joey Shea, the researcher at Human Rights Watch, spoke out against the festival, saying that comedians who performed there should use their platform to call for the release of detained Saudi activists. "Comedians receiving hefty sums from Saudi authorities shouldn’t be silent on prohibited topics in Saudi like human rights or free speech," she said.

But it seems that many of these comedians have failed to take Shea's words to heart. Instead, they have chosen to profit from a regime with a reputation for suppressing dissent and punishing those who speak out against its human rights abuses.

The Fallout: A Lesson in Self-Promotion?

Comedian Marc Maron previously criticized his colleagues, joking that festival was 'From the folks that brought you 9/11'; pictured in 2023 in LA

Ansari's decision to perform at the Riyadh Comedy Festival has sparked widespread criticism on social media, with many accusing him of prioritizing self-promotion over human rights. However, Ansari has attempted to justify his decision by saying that he wanted to use comedy as a way to push for greater freedom and openness in Saudi Arabia.

However, it seems that Ansari's efforts have been met with skepticism - and not just from Human Rights Watch. Several other comedians, including Marc Maron and David Cross, have publicly denounced the performers on the bill, accusing them of condoning human rights abuses for personal gain.

The Bottom Line: A Reputation in Jeopardy?

David Cross berated them in an open letter and wondered why they would 'condone this totalitarian fiefdom for … what, a fourth house? A boat? More sneakers?'; pictured in 2016 in NYC

Ansari's decision to perform at the Riyadh Comedy Festival has put his reputation in jeopardy. With Human Rights Watch declining his donation and several other comedians speaking out against him, it seems that Ansari may have underestimated the backlash he would face for his decision.

As one comedian so aptly put it: "You can't make a joke about the regime's human rights abuses when you're getting paid by them."

The setback for Ansari's post-performance plans comes in the wake of a mildly critical interview on Jimmy Kimmel Live on Tuesday. 'It’s a pretty brutal regime,' Kimmel said. 'They’ve done a lot of horrible, horrible things'; pictured on Jimmy Kimmel Live

But Ansari said he had given his performance 'a lot of thought,' and he ultimately decided that 'A comedy festival felt like something that’s pushing things to be more open and to push a dialogue'; pictured on Jimmy Kimmel Live