Current Events > David Cross on the Riyadh Comedy Festival

(+) Yeah! (+)

https://officialdavidcross.com/blogs/press/my-thoughts-on-the-riyadh-comedy-festival

Gotta say, Im a little disappointed in some of these people.

Just "some of?"

I mean, I don't really get the "they did 9/11!" since Bin Laden was wanted in Saudi Arabia before the US , but like....it's a horrific dictatorship that committed genocide a short time ago?

LightSnake posted...

Just "some of?"

I mean, I don't really get the "they did 9/11!" since Bin Laden was wanted in Saudi Arabia before the US , but like....it's a horrific dictatorship that committed genocide a short time ago?

i think its more that its totally expected from some of these people

gotta say its surprising Shane Gillis is on the right side here too

Wrestlers, Golfers, and now Comedians. Yuck.

I was just started rewatching Todd Margret today! Good show.

But yea, I agree with him. But it's kind of who you expect to be there, the typical hollywood comedians.

"What's the deal with infidels?"

Bill Burr is a real bummer. Unless he turns around and donates it all to charity.

Phew, thought I might have had to lump David Cross with the rest of those dweebs for a moment.

Love how he called it out. For a bunch of people on that stage who have fought long and hard about freedom of speech and how it is part of everything they stand for, clearly they stand for getting paid a bunch of blood money more.

George Carlin would be spinning in his grave if he didn't foresee this kind of shit happening so damn long ago.

Bill Burr arguably the most hypocritical out of all of them since he's been going scorched earth on billionaires in the last few years.

why'd they invite Kash Patel?

None of them should be able to go out in public ever again without being reminded of the blood money they took.

What gets me the most is that there are some big names on that list. They absolutely do not need this money. Just pure greed and throwing all morals out the window for it

ssb_yunglink2 posted...

What gets me the most is that there are some big names on that list. They absolutely do not need this money. Just pure greed and throwing all morals out the window for it

Beyonce sang for Gadhafi's son. If you're famous they let you do it.

Part of me has been very sceptical on the Saudi stuff ever since WWE announced they were going to start doing show there all those years ago.

I'd love to believe they are genuinely trying to course correct and right the wrongs of the past. I remember the promo packages in the WWE shows for Saudi Arabia, showing how far they've come in recent years....women can drive a car now! Lol

I wonder if theres much truth to them actually trying to make a change or not. They're certainly trying to put that across to the rest of the world.

Will be interesting to see how far some of these comics push the boundaries and if anyone gets abruptly stopped and taken away, never to be heard of again.....then again, with the amount of hush money they'll be getting, im sure they all be on their best behaviour

tommybel89 posted...

Bill Burr is a real bummer. Unless he turns around and donates it all to charity.

I'd like to see him just go there and roast them like he did in Philadelphia. Real G shit.

I remember back in the 80s many entertainers violated the UN's cultural boycott on Apartheid South Africa by performing there. They'd be shamed for a couple of weeks and then everyone promptly forgot. Some of those included Queen, Elton John, Dolly Parton, Frank Sinatra, Ray Charles, and Tina Turner.

Looks like this has the making of a 20-twenties version of the Sun City shit list.

Gianmarco has some thoughts on them too.

https://youtube.com/shorts/wD44Tiiv5Gk?si=PaNsHFPcUAdK8w6f

I'm surprised people are even that surprised. Every rich person I've ever met is obsessed with getting richer and richer. Just because you throw fame into the equation it won't make you suddenly change

Burr mentioned this on his podcast yesterday. Saying that he was surprised how open the audience was to the content. I don't feel any way about them making others laugh.

BB_mofo posted...

I remember back in the 80s many entertainers violated the UN's cultural boycott on Apartheid South Africa by performing there. They'd be shamed for a couple of weeks and then everyone promptly forgot. Some of those included Queen, Elton John, Dolly Parton, Frank Sinatra, Ray Charles, and Tina Turner.

Looks like this has the making of a 20-twenties version of the Sun City shit list.

It's become easier to forget now that apartheid has been gone for 30 years.

But it always dogged Queen's career in the UK.

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/forum/1/148854b8.jpg

HMMMM, seems bad to sign onto this!

Alucard188 posted...

I'd like to see him just go there and roast them like he did in Philadelphia. Real G shit.

He's not going to.

You can go on stage at Philly and roast them and they'll just cheer because it's what they're there for. Do that in Saudi Arabia and you run the very real risk of being dragged off and prosecuted. For all their "We are BRAVE TRUTH TELLERS," none of these guys have ever really put their health and safety on the line when they do their bits. In Saudi Arabia they would absolutely have to.

modena posted...

Burr mentioned this on his podcast yesterday. Saying that he was surprised how open the audience was to the content. I don't feel any way about them making others laugh.

I don't think it's the audience that people are having a big problem with here. It's the fact that Saudi Arabia literally chopped up a journalist for being critical of them. That seems to be completely antithetical to how Bill Burr wants to present himself.

People would be rightfully furious if they did this in Israel.

Saudi Arabia has killed more people in Yemen alone. It's a corrupt monarchy that funds brutal death squads and war crimes across the Middle East. The monarch literally had a critical journalist murdered. Homosexuality is criminalized and women are barely even second class citizens. Oh, and foreign workers are treated like slaves and brutally exploited.

But sure, better whitewash them

I fucking love Atsuko Okatsuka.

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/forum/f/f7471d7d.jpg

guess all those principles get flushed down the toilet when money speaks louder... *tsc tsc*

tommybel89 posted...

Bill Burr is a real bummer. Unless he turns around and donates it all to charity.

Apparently he's buying into SA's attempt at rehabilitating their image.

Artists were silent during 45, why start now.

Vietnam war was a tsunami of passionate art... now we get Jay-Z silent courtside.

David Cross is great

dude is such a great analrapist!

Hayame_Zero posted...

Bill Burr arguably the most hypocritical out of all of them since he's been going scorched earth on billionaires in the last few years.

That's only half true. He has also followed up numerous times that if in the same position he'd do it himself and has never held back his hypocrisy.

voldothegr8 posted...

That's only half true. He has also followed up numerous times that if in the same position he'd do it himself and has never held back his hypocrisy.

So that's, like, 4% less pathetic at best.