this post was submitted on 06 Oct 2025
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I can't help but feel like a lot of the controversy is fueled by Islamaphobia. Like, would anyone be caring if these comics were going to a Budapest comedy festival? Hell, the United States is currently killing citizens, but I've not seen any pushback regarding any American comedy festivals. It just seems strange that the autocratic nation critics seem to have the most issues with happens to be Middle-Eastern.
Personally, I'm in the same boat as you. Saudia Arabia has already stepped in to help prop up too much of the media my parents help produce, and it'd be hypocritical of me to claim that this festival is a bridge too far.
Are American comedy festivals usually sponsored directly by the government? Or are they typically independent? Because this one is directly sponsored by an authoritarian government. 0 difference between the people funding the event and the people who murder journalists.
That's a fair difference, but do you think the controversy wouldn't exist if there was the same degree of separation? I'm pretty sure people would take umbrage with the comedians at the festival as long as it was hosted in Saudia Arabia, irregardless of who ultimately pays for it.
I genuinely don't think the controversy would be to the same level, however, with how that government is ran there is no other way an event like this would happen.
If a cabal of random billionaires hosted the festival, yes people would still be upset. I think people are significantly more upset that its being hosted by the leadership.
It has nothing to do with religion for me personally. Its about the reported slave labor, journalist killings, lack of rights for women and the countries connection to 9/11. Saying the US is killing people doesn't help or clarify anything. It's disingenuous and attempts to dismiss a legitimate criticism. Also, like I said, I'm genuinely not "above" consuming media from a country I think is bad. I haven't missed a UFC event in more than a decade. That company does shitty things but they don't really lie about them. The comedians I'm concerned with have made their careers (in some cases) talking about completely antithetical ideas/topics to Saudia Arabian media, culture and journalism.
if you don't see the difference between Saudi Arabia and all the countries you named then you are simply ignorant. it isn't the same, not even close. this has nothing to do with religion and everything to do with human abuses.