In the midst of growing criticism from fellow comedians and human rights organizations, Bill Burr is voicing his defense of participating in the Riyadh Comedy Festival, describing the experience as “one of the top three experiences I’ve had” and “mind-blowing.”
During his September 29 episode of the “Monday Morning Podcast,” Burr expressed his enthusiasm about being part of the inaugural comedy festival in Saudi Arabia. “It was fantastic to see that part of the world and be part of something that was a first for them in comedy,” he said. “The royals loved the show, and everyone involved with the festival was thrilled.”
However, Burr admitted that upon arriving in Riyadh, he felt a sense of apprehension influenced by years of negative portrayals in Western media. He mentioned, “You think everyone is going to be yelling ‘Death to America’ and that there will be people with machetes wanting to chop my head off. That’s what I’ve been fed about that part of the world.”
One of his biggest surprises while in Riyadh was the variety of dining options available, along with the audience he performed for, which he characterized as young, diverse, and enthusiastic about stand-up comedy.
“Is that a Starbucks next to a Pizza Hut next to a Burger King next to a McDonald’s? They have a Chili’s here!” Burr exclaimed. “During the show, I had to pause and say, ‘Honestly, I can’t believe any of you even know who I am.’ It was a great exchange of energy. They are aware of their reputation, so they were especially welcoming.”
Despite acknowledging the initial restrictions in the festival’s invitation — which included bans on political, religious, and LGBTQ+ content — Burr noted that those limitations were loosened following discussions with the artists.
He explained, “The organizers were informed, ‘If you want quality comedians, this won’t work.’ They negotiated the restrictions down to just a couple of things: no jokes about the royals or religion.” Burr stated that he was able to perform most of his typical act with only minor alterations.
In a moment that raised some tension, he recounted a joke about sex, which prompted a couple in the audience to get up and leave. “I thought, ‘Oh fuck. Am I in trouble?’” Burr reflected. “But they returned a few minutes later, and afterward, security reassured me, ‘You’re fine. All that stuff is allowed here.’”
Despite Burr’s positive recounting, not everyone shares his sentiment. On Monday, comedian David Cross shared a vehement public statement criticizing performers willing to entertain in Riyadh.
“I am disgusted and deeply disappointed in this whole gross situation,” Cross expressed, singling out Burr and other comedians like Dave Chappelle and Louis C.K. He argued they have lost the right to complain about censorship or “cancel culture” in the U.S.
Notable voices among the comedy community, such as Marc Maron and Shane Gillis, have also condemned the festival publicly. Meanwhile, Human Rights Watch labeled the event part of the Saudi government’s ongoing effort for “whitewashing” in an interview with CBS News.
The Riyadh Comedy Festival, extending through mid-October, is part of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s Vision 2030 initiative aimed at modernizing and diversifying the Saudi economy through entertainment and tourism. Alongside Burr, the festival features a star-studded lineup including Kevin Hart, Aziz Ansari, Whitney Cummings, Pete Davidson, Gabriel Iglesias, and others. However, its association with Saudi Arabia’s controversial Minister of Entertainment, Turki Al-Sheikh, and the kingdom’s troubling human rights history — including the 2018 murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, alleged connections to the 9/11 attacks, and the oppression of LGBTQ+ individuals and political dissidents — looms heavily over the event.
Regardless of the backlash, Burr stood firm in his beliefs during the podcast episode. “People are cool. Governments are the problem,” he declared. “Every time I travel, I realize the same thing. The people I encountered there just wanted to laugh. And they fucking did.”
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