this post was submitted on 27 Sep 2025
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Some of the world’s best-known comedians -- including American performers Dave Chappelle, Pete Davidson, Louis C.K., and Bill Burr -- have been dubbed “sellouts” for taking part in a Saudi state-sponsored comedy festival in the wake of another journalist’s killing, and a reported rise in executions for non-lethal and drug-related crimes, along with long prison sentences imposed for social media posts.

The Riyadh Comedy Festival, hosted by Saudi Arabia’s government, is a new, lucrative gig for big-name comedians as the country expands its entertainment sector as part of “Saudi Vision 2030.” The initiative, brainchild of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, also includes the highly-controversial LIV Golf tournament and investments in the tech, gaming, and venture capital sectors.

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[–] IndustryStandard@lemmy.world 1 points 1 day ago

America is literally committing genocide. Americans need to get off their high horse already.

[–] Almacca@aussie.zone 22 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (6 children)

I went to check who else was going, and was disappointed to see Jimeoin, Gabriel Iglesias and Hannibal Buress there.

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[–] lolola@lemmy.blahaj.zone 13 points 1 day ago

dear billy big bux :/

[–] commander@lemmy.world 19 points 2 days ago

These are the most successful comedians. Like most rich entertainers, most are assholes behind the scenes when when their public persona matters and they want to fit in with younger crowds. Then when they're past their prime years of relevance, they start kicking down further and further. George Carlin is a rarity. People making a career dunking on others are probably going to end up old shock jocks eventually

[–] NoForwardslashS@sopuli.xyz 19 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Let's see the court jesters poke fun at their hosts and see what happens.

[–] Nastybutler@lemmy.world 25 points 2 days ago (3 children)

In the article it mentions that Tim Dillon was uninvited after some derogatory comments about the regime there. He should have saved that material until he was there

[–] themeatbridge@lemmy.world 22 points 2 days ago (1 children)

He might not have come home.

[–] swearengen@sopuli.xyz 9 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

They would have needed a bigger suitcase at the very least.

[–] Vandals_handle@lemmy.world 2 points 1 day ago

I saw what you did there

[–] COASTER1921@lemmy.ml 4 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

I suspect at least one comedian will cross some line but I also suspect that showing which lines are okay to cross now is the Saudi government's reason for doing this all in the first place.

Their government is in a super precarious position both economically and socially. Oil revenue is shrinking and the younger generation doesn't identify so heavily with the wahabists. But the wahabists historically held nearly as much power as the house of Saud and heavily oppose all social change. The pace at which Saudi society has westernized is remarkable considering where they were just 10 years ago, even if brought about by an authoritarian ruler consolidating power from religious fundamentalists. This is yet another step in the direction of pushing the wahabists further aside for the sake of westernizing their economy.

I really don't envy the position MBS is stuck in. He faces enormous pressure from the wahabists who criticize the limited social changes he has brought, he faces distrust from the house of Saud most of whom he essentially accused of mass corruption, and criticism from the West for Saudi's poor human rights record. And amid all of this the country faces the economic crisis of the world moving away from oil. It's no wonder the dude is focusing on stupid mega projects as that's just about the only thing he can do without upsetting a huge number of people.

I sometimes wonder what it would be like if Saudi Arabia were a democracy. I suspect their politics would be far more divided and heated than any Western country.

[–] SnotFlickerman@lemmy.blahaj.zone 5 points 2 days ago (1 children)

I'm definitely curious to see how many of these comedians test boundaries and are summarily disappeared before they leave the country.

[–] alekwithak@lemmy.world 4 points 2 days ago

Could even be a joint plan to get rid of some of them.

[–] WhatGodIsMadeOf@feddit.org 13 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (1 children)

Shane Gillis... The naive all American highschool boy? He's like ...the American Girl doll of comedy.

[–] BetaBlake@lemmy.world 7 points 1 day ago

He's anything but naive

[–] renrenPDX@lemmy.dbzer0.com 6 points 1 day ago

Oh wow. I hope all this fallout they're going to receive is worth it for them.

[–] MojitoMoon@lemmy.zip -5 points 1 day ago (6 children)

Saudi has a population of around 35 million and 15 of those are foreigners. The people have the right to have some entertainment and all the jobs and other economic benefits that events like this bring to the people.

Not to mention more exposure to western media might help the people becoming more progressive no? I don't understand why people just want the people in Saudi to just be miserable just because they don't agree with their government. I don't see people wishing misery on Americans just because of the actions of their corrupt government.

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OH NICE SLAM GUYS

[–] rising_man@lemmy.world -1 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Considering how backwards the Saudi government is in terms if human rights, it still feels like a win for bringing some different thinking over there.

I would also note:

-Those gentlemen are not perceived as the friendliest to the feminists because they are middle-age dudes. That could explain how they end up in this line up.

-They are more the type to have the balls to go give a controversial show in an autocratic country.

[–] Pfeffy@lemmy.world 5 points 1 day ago

They signed agreements about what they can and cannot make jokes about, so that's a stupid point.

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