Jeff Ross recently discussed his attendance at the highly controversial Riyadh Comedy Festival. He said that he performed at the festival “for the fans” and not for “some royal people” he’ll “never meet.”
Jeff Ross talks about the Riyadh Comedy Festival
During a panel at the New York Comedy Festival, Jeff Roff opened up on why he chose to attend the Riyadh Comedy Festival in Saudi Arabia earlier this year.
“As soon as I landed, there was a 16-year-old kid with his mom waiting for me at my hotel,” Roff recalled. “I was like, ‘This is exactly why I came here.’ Not to perform for some royal people that I’ll never meet that didn’t come to my show, but for the fans.” (via Variety)
He continued, “To turn our backs on the fans who were looking to hear some American culture. To me, that’s comedy diplomacy. That’s why I’m on this Earth. Being a comedian gives me a backstage pass to the world, to get to see things I would never get to see.”
Roff reflected on how the audience at the festival reacted to his set. “The crowds were great,” he shared. “Women in full burkas laughing at the same shit that people will laugh at tonight at the New York Comedy Festival. So to me, it was life-affirming.”
He went on to describe how he spent additional days in the city visiting local comedy clubs. Ross called the performers “very sophisticated” and “very funny.” He added, “I’m not sure I would have known that had I just read everybody’s bullshit Instagram comments.”
His comments come amid the controversy surrounding the Riyadh Comedy Festival. The event took place between September 26 and October 9, 2025. As a part of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, the government–sponsored comedy festival served as a step towards establishing the country as a destination for international events.
Human Rights Watch accused the government of using the festival as an attempt at “whitewashing” its abuses. (via HRW) It also noted that it coincided with the seventh anniversary of journalist Jamal Khashoggi’s murder. HRW had also urged the performers to speak up for the detained Saudi dissidents and activists.
Originally reported by Harsha Panduranga on Comingsoon.
