The comedy world finds itself embroiled in controversy as Whitney Cummings appears to have scrubbed her response to criticism about performing at Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh Comedy Festival. This criticism came most pointedly from her former co-star Chris D’Elia.
The deleted commentary, which has since been documented through various sources, came after D’Elia questioned Cummings’ decision to perform in the kingdom, particularly in light of her prominent advocacy during the #MeToo movement.
When allegations emerged against D’Elia in 2020, Cummings was among those who publicly distanced herself from him, stating at the time: “This abuse of power is enabled by silence. Now that I’m aware, I won’t be silent.”
D’Elia, speaking on his podcast, took aim at what he perceives as selective activism among Hollywood figures. “If you’re out there saying, ‘Hey, the Me Too movement, hey, Black Lives Matter, hey, this is all important [stuff]’… And then you take the bag, you’re a [sellout]. Now I can’t believe anything,” he said.
He continued: “Don’t you know it’s like if you’re you, whether you’re going to Saudi Arabia for money or you’re pretending you are an ally to save your money, it’s the same thing.”
The podcast host didn’t mince words about what he sees as performative activism in the entertainment industry. “If you’re an entertainer, be an entertainer. If you want to be an activist, be an activist. Don’t be an activist under the guise of you know, you’re making money of it. That’s horses**t.”
In her now-deleted response, Cummings pushed back against critics with multiple lines of defense. She characterized opposition to the Saudi performance as “just racism,” suggesting that critics were conflating the Saudi government with its people. “I don’t operate under the idea that every government and their people are the same,” she stated.
“I think it took me a second because when people are going like ‘you’re doing something unethical,’ I’m like, ‘oh, this must be ethical people.'”
“But these are also, by the way, the same people that would go like, you know, Trump’s not my president. I’m nothing like our government, but other countries are. Just because you don’t believe in comedy, it doesn’t mean other people don’t.”
The comedian also dismissed D’Elia’s criticism by suggesting it came from “someone who was just bummed that they weren’t invited,” adding cryptically: “because he also believes he deserves 72 virgins. Maybe it’s that.”
Cummings attempted to deflect by attacking the financial background of her critics, stating: “I love when a nepo baby tells comics who grew up poor that they’re sellouts. People whose dads have points on huge television shows are like, I have a backup planet. Trust fund. You’re a sellout for making money.”
She also argued that other comedians have indirect financial ties to Saudi Arabia through partnerships with Live Nation, which has Saudi investment. “Anyone that, any comic who has ever worked with Live Nation, which is all of them, has taken Saudi money,” she said.
The controversy comes at a time when Saudi Arabia has been investing heavily in entertainment and sports as part of its Vision 2030 initiative, drawing both major names and criticism from human rights advocates concerned about the kingdom’s treatment of women, dissidents, and LGBTQ+ individuals.
