Intro In the weeks following the Riyadh Comedy Festival, much of the conversation has been dominated by accusations of “artwashing” and how the event has been used by the Saudi government to improve its global image. Critics point to the state’s history of human rights abuses, particularly against LGBTQ+ individuals, and question whether itâs ethicalContinue reading “The Riyadh Comedy Festival 2025: The Hidden Power of Exposure in a Controlled Environment”
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The Riyadh Comedy Festival and the Possibility of a Silver Lining
In 2025, the Riyadh Comedy Festival made headlines across the world â and not for the reasons comedy usually does. What shouldâve been a celebration of laughter, creativity, and cross-cultural performance quickly turned into a firestorm of criticism. Western audiences condemned it as propaganda, activists called it state-sponsored whitewashing, and comedians who chose to performContinue reading “The Riyadh Comedy Festival and the Possibility of a Silver Lining”