Jessica Kirson, a well-known comedian and Garden State native, shared that she now regrets her involvement in a contentious international comedy show.
The popular lesbian comedian, who is originally from South Orange, has expressed “sincere regret” after participating in the Riyadh Comedy Festival in Saudi Arabia.
“I hoped that this could help LGBTQ+ people in Saudi Arabia feel seen and valued. I am grateful that I was able to do precisely that — to my knowledge, I am the first openly gay comic to talk about it on stage in Saudi Arabia. I received messages from attendees sharing how much it meant to them to participate in a gay-affirming event,” Kirson said in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter. “At the same time, I deeply regret participating under the auspices of the Saudi government.”
Kirson stated that she was surprised to be invited to perform at the comedy festival as she is openly lesbian.
The star-studded event, which began Sept. 26 and runs through Oct. 9, has been promoted as the “world’s largest comedy festival.” The showcase features acts like Dave Chappelle, Bill Burr, Kevin Hart, Pete Davidson, Whitney Cummings, Andrew Schulz, Aziz Ansari and more.
The Riyadh Comedy Festival has faced backlash from comedians who have criticized the Saudi Arabian government’s censorship and murders of journalists.
Kirson, 55, said she will donate her pay from the event to an undisclosed human rights organization as she is “deeply sorry to all the fans and followers” that were disappointed by her decision.
“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,” Kirson wrote. “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 had repercussions I didn’t fully consider.”
The comedian, step-sister of actor Zach Braff grew up in South Orange, and graduated from Columbia High School in Maplewood. She’s appeared in films like “School Dance,” “The Comedian” and “The King of Staten Island.”
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