Lesbian Comic Jessica Kirston Expresses “Sincere Regret,” Donates After Riyadh Performance
Kirson went on to say she hopes the controversy “sparks dialogue about how we can use our platforms for good,” and apologized to fans who felt disappointed or betrayed by her decision to perform.
“To my fans: I see you. I hear you. Your voice matters to me,” Kirson wrote. “I love you all, and I am genuinely sorry for making a poor decision that had repercussions I didn’t fully consider. I will take full responsibility for my actions and dedicate myself to making amends, so that my words and choices reflect the respect and care you deserve.”
Kirson, a major presence on comedy TikTok with 1.5 million followers, is expected to release her third stand-up special on Hulu in November, alongside fellow Ryadh performer Bill Burr, who produced her first special Talking to Myself for Comedy Central in 2019. She was one of only three women to perform in Riyadh for the festival, along with Whitney Cummings and Zarna Garg. Wayne Brady, who came out as pansexual in 2023, was still scheduled to perform on October 6 at time of writing.
Saudi Arabian censors often remove LGBTQ+ content from foreign media, stripping storylines and characters from such past films as Doctor Strange, West Side Story, and Lightyear. But the kingdom has sought to rehabilitate its image on the world stage in recent years through the “Vision 2030” plan, which has drawn billions of dollars in tourism through partnerships with businesses like World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). Critics say that events like the Riyadh Comedy Festival provide cover for the Saudi government to erase its history of human rights abuses — and to continue committing new ones — while claiming reform.
“The seventh anniversary of Jamal Khashoggi’s brutal murder is no laughing matter, and comedians receiving hefty sums from Saudi authorities shouldn’t be silent on prohibited topics in Saudi like human rights or free speech,” said said Joey Shea, Saudi Arabia researcher at Human Rights Watch, in a statement ahead of the festival’s opening last month.
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