Netflix blocks Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj episode in Saudi Arabia after legal threat

The New York Times

Netflix defended its decision last week to pull the Oct. 28 Patriot Act "Saudi Arabia" episode that criticized Saudi Arabia Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman after the government claimed the episode violated its cybercrime laws, saying: “We strongly support artistic freedom worldwide and only removed this episode in Saudi Arabia after we had received a valid legal request — and to comply with local law.” On the episode, Minhaj says: “Now would be a good time to reassess our relationship with Saudi Arabia, and I mean that as a Muslim and an American.” The episode, which was only removed from Netflix in Saudi Arabia, was taken down last week, according to the Financial Times, which adds that the video can still be seen in the country via the show's YouTube channel. Minhaj has yet to respond to Netflix's decision, but he told The Atlantic last month the fear he had in making the episode. “There was a lot of discussion in my family about not doing it,” he told The Atlantic. “I’ve just come to personal and spiritual terms with what the repercussions are.”