Lesbian comedian Jessica Carson has publicly apologized for her performance on her show. riyadh comedy festival In Saudi Arabia, he said he later donated all his performance fees.
part of saudi arabia vision 2030 plan The festival attracted widespread attention as it positioned the kingdom as a global cultural and entertainment center. condemnation From fellow comedians and human rights organizations.
Carson said she initially saw the invitation as an opportunity to give a voice to oppressed people in the community.
“I would like to express my sincere regret for performing under a government that continues to violate fundamental human rights,” she said in a statement. hollywood reporter. “I asked for guarantees that I could come out as a lesbian on stage and perform gay material. I hoped this would help LGBTQ+ people in Saudi Arabia feel seen and valued.”
She added that she donated “the entire amount of her appearance fee” to an anonymous human rights organization.
According to the LGBTQ nonprofit organization, Trust in human dignitySaudi Arabia prohibits same-sex acts under Islamic law, and the maximum penalty is death. Gender expression among transgender people is also criminalized under the kingdom’s strict dress code.
The Riyadh festival featured several notable headliners, including Wayne Brady, Pete Davidson and Kevin Hart. Carson was one of only three women in the 35-issue lineup of comics, along with Whitney Cummings and Zarna Garg.
Women have long faced severe discrimination in Saudi Arabia. A little bit progress Following the decision, the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) last year identified more than 20 areas of concern, including the targeting of women human rights defenders, the continued use of “male guardianship” and the use of the death penalty.
Carson apologized, but other comedians who performed at the festival either remained silent or doubled down amid mounting criticism.
Carson is currently on a US comedy tour and will appear at the Warner Theater in Washington, DC on Thursday, October 16th.
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Source: Metro Weekly – www.metroweekly.com
