The Downside with Gianmarco Soresi #315 Thoughts on The Riyadh Comedy Festival from Two Comedians Who Weren’t Invited (Patreon Excerpt)
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Sep 27, 2025 Two comedians hilariously bemoan their exclusion from the Riyadh Comedy Festival, debating what it would take to perform in Saudi Arabia. They tackle the ethical dilemmas of performing for a government with a controversial human rights record. The pair express disappointment in high-profile comics who accepted invitations, questioning whether humor can incite change under oppressive regimes. They also explore the notion of comedians as unwitting propagandists and ponder what bold statements a performer could make on such a stage.
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They Auditioned, Weren't Selected
- Gianmarco and Russell auditioned for Riyadh Comedy Festival but were not invited and joked about roles like 'executioner.'
- They discuss rumored pay ranges from $150k to $1.6M and joke about what it would take to perform there.
Weigh Reputation Over One-Time Pay
- Russell advises that a huge one-time payday can be turned down because someone else will later offer similar pay with less moral baggage.
- He recommends considering long-term reputational costs over immediate money before accepting problematic gigs.
Money Can Undermine Credibility
- Gianmarco argues many high-paid comedians should refuse Riyadh because fan backlash and ethics outweigh the money.
- He notes some performers have so much money that taking the gig feels embarrassing and undermines their credibility.