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Comedian Aziz Ansari's plan to donate part of his performance fee from the Riyadh Comedy Festival to Human Rights Watch (HRW) and Reporters Without Borders has been rejected by HRW. The organization stated it cannot accept donations from performers at the state-sponsored event in Saudi Arabia, due to concerns about compromising its independence. HRW also urged performers to call for the release of detained Saudi activists. The festival, which has been criticized for its association with the Saudi regime, saw a divide among comedians, with some refusing to participate due to ethical concerns.

Prepared by Emily Rhodes and reviewed by editorial team.