STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Pete Davidson’s appearance at the Riyadh Comedy Festival has sparked backlash from fellow comedians and critics who accuse the event’s participants of ignoring Saudi Arabia’s human rights record.

The Staten Island native performed at the Bakr Al-Sheddi Theater on Oct. 3 as part of his first international tour, which includes stops across Singapore, Australia, Europe and the Middle East. His set in Saudi Arabia drew particular attention given his personal connection to the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks — his father, FDNY firefighter Scott Davidson, was killed responding to the World Trade Center.

Prior to his festival performance, Davidson addressed the controversy during an appearance on comedian Theo Von’s “This Past Weekend” podcast. When asked about performing i

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