It Could Happen Here The Riyadh Comedy Festival
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Oct 7, 2025 The hosts dive into the controversial Riyadh Comedy Festival, where comedians allegedly compromise their integrity for royal appearances. They explore the tangled ties of organizers to the Saudi regime and discuss the grim reality of human rights abuses. The financial allure for performers sparks a lively debate on ethics, highlighted by reflections from Bill Burr. They distinguish between performing for locals and legitimizing the government’s image. The episode concludes with a satirical nod towards authoritarian comedy festivals, leaving listeners amused yet contemplative.
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Performing For State-Run Events Enables Whitewashing
- Performing in repressive regimes funded by the state can act as direct propaganda for those regimes.
- Robert Evans argues performing at the Riyadh festival was not neutral because it was organized by a senior Saudi government official tied to abuses.
Tim Dillon's Pay Revealed How Big Money Motivated Acts
- Tim Dillon publicly revealed he was paid $375,000 and discussed the extreme sums offered to perform.
- Robert Evans and the hosts used Dillon's comments to show how financial incentives drove many comedians' choices.
Cultural Exchange Arguments Don’t Erase Funding Source
- Many comedians defended performing by claiming cultural exchange or audience benefit, while downplaying regime abuses.
- Robert Evans and Garrison Davis counter that accepting money from the regime crosses ethical lines when it whitewashes abuses.