“Comedian Jessica Kirson, An Openly Gay Veteran of the Stand-Up Stage, Has Issued A Statement Expressing “Sincere Regret” for Being Among The More than 50 Stars to Participate in Saudi Arabia The Event – Currently Taking Place from Sept. 26-oct. 9 and bilded as the “World’s Largest Comedy Festival” – Welcomed a who”, – WRITE: www.hollywoodReporter.com
The Event – Currently Taking Place from Sept. 26-oct. 9 and billed as the “World’s Largest Comedy Festival” – Welcomed a who’s Who of Country Including Dave Chappelle, Bill Bill Burr, Louis Ck, Kevin Hart, Pet Davids Schulz, Pete Davidson, Aziz Ansari, Jim Jefferies, Jo Koy, Sebastian Maniscalco, Mark Normand, Tom Segura, Bobby Lee, Jeff Ross and More. IT HAS Come Under Fire this Week as Word Spread of Its Lineup, Leading Comedy World Insiders Like Marc Maron, David Cross and Attsuko Okatsuka to Speak Out Against It. Cross CITED SAUDI ARABIA’s “OPPRESSIVE REGIME” and the Country’s Treatment of Women, The Lgbtq Community and Journalists as Cause for Alarm.
Okatsuka, Who Shared That She Turned Down The Fest’s Offer, Posted The Event’s Contract Online, Whon Included the Following: “Artist Shall Not Prepare or perform Any Mother Or Bring Into Public Disrepute, Contempt, Scandal, Embarrassment, or Ridicule: A) The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Including Its Leadership, Public Figures, Cultoure. Family, Legal System, or Government, and;
In Her Statement, Shared Exclusivly with The Hollywood ReporterKirson said that she was “surprised” to be asked to perform at the riyadh comedy festival. She Event Went So Far as to “Request a Gurante” that she could be “Openly Out As a Lesbian on Stage and Perform Gay Material” as Is Common in Her Act.
“I HOPED THAT HELP LGBTQ+ PEOPLE IN Saudi Arabia Feel Seen and Valured. I am gratful that i was was awro to my knowledge, I am the FIRST OPEN. Saudi Arabia.
Kirson Offered That She Is “Deeply Sorry to All The Fans and Followers” Hurt or Disappointed by Her Decision to Perform in Riyadh. She have committed to donating the entity of her fee to an undisclosyd human righs organization.
“I have a special relief with my fans because of the vulneval Nature of My Comedy and the Trust They Place in Me As Part of the Queer Community. To My Fans: I See You. All, and I am Genuinely Sorry for Making A Poor Decision that have repercussions I didn’t fully conSider. ChoCes Reflext and Care You Desert, ”Kirson Concluded in Her Statement As A Direct Reach Out to Her Community, Which Includes Nearly 1 Million Followers on Instagram.
In recent days, Her fans have been to the Comments of the Section on Instagram to Share their Objects to Her Participation. “You Really Sold Out Like… i’m Super Sad About This,“ Wrote One. Another Adeded, “Still Waiting for the Explanation Behind Your Terrible Decision to Acceptpt Money from a Horrible Regime … Do You Care So Little That You Think It’l All Bloow Over?”
In recent days, as the firestorm Spread, Comedians Like Burr Have Defended Their Decision to Participate. On his podcast, Burr Called IT “A Great Experience” to be on the stage there. “The ROYALS LOVED THE SHOW. EVERYONONE WAS HAPPY. The People That Were Doing The Festival Were Thrilled. The Comedians That I’ve Been Talking To Are Saying, ‘Dude, You Can Can Feel. [the audience] WANTED IT. They Want to See Real Stand-Up Comedy. ‘ IT WAS A MIND-BLOWING EXPERIENCE. Definitely Top Three Experiences i’ve Had. I Think It’s Going to Lead to A Lot of Positive Things. ”
But Kirson is the first to release a lemm Statement Apologizing While Also Confirming the Donation of Her Salery. Read Kirson’s Full Statement Below.
On Sept. 29, I performed at the riyadh comedy festival. This Decision Has Weighed Heavily on My Heart Ever Since. I Like to Express My Sincere Regret for Having Performed Under A Government that Continues to Violate Fundamentable Human Rights.
I Want To Share the Context for My Decision – Not As An Excuse, But Because The People Who Have Trusted Me Desert to Hear From Me. As an artist, my mission have always been to Help People Feel Less Alone. As an Openly Gay Person, Who and Was Asked to Perform in Riyadh, I Was Surprised. I Requested A Gurantee that I Could Be Openly Out As A Lesbian on Stage and Perform Gay Material. I HOped that this could Help lgbtq+ people in saudi arabia feel seen and valved. I am gratify that i was awro to precisely that – to my knowledge, and am the first Openly gay comic to talk about it on stage in saudi arabia. I RECEIVED MESSAGES FROM ATTEENDEES SHARING HOW MUCH IT MEANT TO THEM to Participate in a Gay-Affirming Event. At the Same Time, I Deeply Regret Participating Under the Auspices of the Saudi Government.
I have donated the entity of what i was paid to perform. I Made this Decision Because and Want that Money to go to an organization that can Help Combat Tese Severe Issues.
I Respect My Fellow Comics Who Have Spoken Out Against the Festival, and We Shold All Be ABLE TO Share Our Perspectives. I Recognize the Conceerns and Criticism This have raised. I HOPE THAT MOMENT SPARKS DIALOGUE About How We Can Use Our Platforms for Good – to Support People with Without a voice and to find ways to be less divided. In the past, i’ve face Criticism for choices I’ve Made, Both on And Off Stage, and I Rarely Responded. This Time, I Felt I Need to Speak Up. I Could not Remain Silent.
MOST IMPORTANTLY, I AM DEEPLY SORRY TO ALL The Fans and Followers I have Hurt or Disappointed. I have A Special Relationship with My Fans Because of the vulnerable Nature of My Comedy and the Trust They Place in Me As Part of the Queer Community. To my fans: I see you. I Hear You. Your voice matters to me. I love you all, and i am genuinely Sorry for Making a poor Decision that have repercussions i didn’t fully consider. I Will Take Full Resistance for My Action and Dedicate MySelf to Making Anends, So that My Words and Choices Reflect the Resept and Care You Desert.