Actress and activist Leah Remini has launched a scathing attack on prominent comedians participating in Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh Comedy Festival. In a recent YouTube video, she accused them of abandoning their principles for financial gain.
Remini’s condemnation targets high-profile performers including Bill Burr, Andrew Schulz, Kevin Hart, and Pete Davidson, whom she argues are helping “soften this regime’s reputation around the world.”
Known for her outspoken stance against Scientology and authoritarian regimes, Remini expressed her dismay at seeing entertainers she once respected “cave and show up in Saudi Arabia to take a check.” She emphasized that while Saudi citizens deserve entertainment, the issue lies in celebrities lending legitimacy to an oppressive government through their participation.
“I’m never going to accept that. You’re never going to see me laundering the image of the crown prince,” Remini stated, drawing parallels between the Saudi regime and other authoritarian systems she has opposed.
The controversy centers on what critics view as blatant hypocrisy from the participating comedians. Bill Burr previously mocked Beyoncé for performing for Muammar Gaddafi’s son, yet now finds himself booked in Riyadh. In past commentary, Burr sarcastically suggested he would perform in “one of those apartheid countries” for money, seemingly prophetic of his current situation.
Similarly, Andrew Schulz, who built his brand on politically charged observations, previously criticized Saudi Arabia’s dependence on U.S. protection. “Saudi Arabia exists because we allow them to exist,” Schulz once said, pointing out how the kingdom relies on American weapons and support. His decision to perform there now appears to contradict his earlier stance.
Perhaps most jarring is Pete Davidson’s participation. Davidson’s father, a firefighter, died in the September 11 attacks, which involved 15 Saudi nationals. When questioned about performing in Saudi Arabia despite this personal connection, Davidson candidly admitted: “I get the routing and then I see the number and I go, I’ll go.”
Remini frames her criticism within a broader human rights context, highlighting cases like Salma al-Shehab, a Saudi student and mother serving 27 years in prison for tweets about human rights. She argues that the festival represents “culture washing” – an attempt to rebrand Saudi Arabia’s international image through entertainment while serious human rights violations continue.
The actress rejects being labeled merely a “critic,” stating: “The crimes we talk about, whether under MBS, David Miscavige, or any other dictator, are matters of fact. The rights we demand should be considered essential and universal, not extraordinary and unusual.”
Kevin Hart’s enthusiastic reception of Saudi hospitality, declaring “you’re stuck with me now” to the royal family, further exemplifies what Remini sees as troubling normalization of an authoritarian regime.
