Louis C.K. is the latest comedian to address his decision to perform at Saudi Arabia ‘s inaugural Riyadh Comedy Festival .

As the comedian appeared Friday on Real Time , he explained he had “mixed feelings” about participating in the controversial festival, but has come to see it as “a positive thing,” despite backlash from many of his comedy peers.

“I’ve been talking to them, the comedians who’ve been there, and they’ve been really surprised by what’s going on,” he told host Bill Maher . “There’s a woman who’s a lesbian and Jewish, who did a show there, and she got a standing ovation. So, there’s stuff going on that’s unexpected in this thing.”

C.K. continued, “People have been playing Saudi Arabia for years. Comedians have been going and playing Arab countries, there was a

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