Comedian Okatsuka Alleges Saudi Censorship

In a HuffPost report from September 30, 2025, comedian Atsuko Okatsuka revealed the alleged "content restrictions" from an offer she declined for the Riyadh Comedy Festival in Saudi Arabia. Okatsuka claimed the rules required performers to avoid any material that could be seen as degrading or ridiculing the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, its government, the royal family, or any religion.

Okatsuka shared screenshots of the purported offer she received in July on social media, stating she turned down the gig due to the country's human rights record and the source of the event's funding. The festival, which is scheduled to run until October 9, has drawn criticism from other comedians and organizations like Human Rights Watch, which warned it was an attempt to whitewash the government's reputation. Several other comedians, including Mike Birbiglia and Leslie Liao, also reportedly declined invitations to perform.