"Weird Al" Yankovic has revealed he turned down a seven-figure offer, worth at least $1 million, to perform at last year's Riyadh Comedy Festival in Saudi Arabia, saying the money made him feel "icky". The disclosure comes shortly after the musical satirist made headlines for pulling out of an advertisement for AI software, reinforcing his reputation for turning down lucrative deals on ethical grounds. His decision highlights the deep divisions within the comedy industry over accepting money linked to the Saudi government.

Speaking to Pennsylvania publication TribLive, Yankovic said he was offered more than he had ever been paid for a single show but declined without disclosing the exact figure, adding he did not want to judge those who accepted. The state-sponsored festival, held last autumn, featured major names including Dave Chappelle, Bill Burr, Louis C.K., Pete Davidson and Aziz Ansari, with paydays reportedly ranging from mid-six figures up to $1.6 million. Critics such as Marc Maron, Jimmy Kimmel and David Cross condemned the event over its ties to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's government, which sanctioned the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, while comedians including Atsuko Okatsuka and Shane Gillis also said they refused offers, some reportedly involving restrictions on jokes about the government, legal system or religion. Others who performed, including Ansari and Burr, defended their participation, arguing it could encourage greater openness in the country.