Aziz Ansari is the latest comedian to defend to controversial decision to perform at Saudi Arabia’s debut Riyadh Comedy Festival .

The Golden Globe winner said his decision to perform at the festival was “something I put a lot of thought into,” noting his Muslim background and recounting a conversation he had with his aunt who used to live in Saudi Arabia.

“There’s people over there that don’t agree with the stuff that the government’s doing, and to ascribe the worst behavior of the government onto those people, that’s not fair,” said Ansari. “Just like there’s people in America that don’t agree with the things the government is doing.

Ansari said he never dealt with any Saudi leaders directly. “I was just there to do a show for the people,” he explained, recalling a discussion he ha

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