British comedian Jimmy Carr has publicly defended his decision to perform at a comedy festival in Saudi Arabia, an engagement that drew significant criticism from human rights organisations. The 53-year-old star of 8 Out of 10 Cats took part in the Riyadh Comedy Festival in October 2025.
'The direction of travel is pretty good'
Addressing the controversy on The Louis Theroux Podcast, Carr argued that Western perspectives on the Middle East need to change. He stated that people should abandon the idea that the region should mirror Western Europe.
"I played it. I loved it," Carr said of his Saudi performance. "The Middle East is a very different place and the same people that will tell you 'diversity is our strength' will tell you 'don't go there. They're not like us'."
He pointed to perceived progress within the kingdom, adding: "The thing that I like about Saudi Arabia is the direction of travel. Look at where it was 10 years ago. Look at where it is now. The direction of travel is pretty good."
Criticism and 'entertainment-washing' allegations
Carr's participation, alongside other comedians like Dave Chappelle and Omid Djalili, was criticised as an attempt to deflect from Saudi Arabia's human rights record. Human Rights Watch had claimed the festival aimed to distract from the government's "brutal repression of free speech and other pervasive human rights violations".
The line-up, predominantly male, faced accusations of being paid to 'look the other way', with rumours of substantial appearance fees. When questioned about his payment, Carr responded: "I was paid, I would say, a commensurate amount with selling out an 8,000 seater room. So it's a big room, and I got paid. I earned it."
Amnesty International UK has strongly condemned Carr's comments. Felix Jakens, the organisation's head of campaigns, accused the festival of being "entertainment-washing".
"This is entertainment-washing in action - using big-name comedians and glossy festivals to project reform while repression continues offstage," Jakens said. "No amount of laughter can disguise the reality of Saudi Arabia's human rights record."
He highlighted that a record 345 people were executed in Saudi Arabia last year, alongside the ongoing imprisonment of activists like Manahel al-Otaibi and the lack of justice for murdered journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
Carr on free speech and consequences
Discussing the nature of his comedy and potential offence, Carr acknowledged performers must accept the repercussions of their material. "You have to deal with the consequences," he stated. "If you're going to say that, you've got to be willing to say it and go, yeah, I don't regret telling that joke. That's fine."
He concluded by emphasising his duty to his core audience, saying: "Some people really were upset by it. That's OK. I've got the people that come and see me and they really like that stuff, and I've got to serve them, not someone else."
The debate continues to raise questions about the role of international artists in countries with contentious human rights policies, balancing cultural exchange against accusations of legitimising repression.
