The common community for comedy and its legion of fans are currently in the wake of some of the most popular and respected talent decisions to perform at the Riyadh Comedy Comedy Festival in Saudi Arabia. Though the country is in the midst of an allged, socially progressive Shift Via Vision 2030 Project (which also aims to make the kingdom Less Reliant on Oil Production by Building Up Its Tech, Sports, and Entertainment Industries), Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman Al Saad Threw A Spanner in the Works Seven Years Ago by Allgedly Ordering The brutal murder The Washington Post journalist Jamamal Kasoghi for a serious work that has strongly criticized the crown prince in print. Since then, more dissidents have been closed and, on the occasion, performedWhile the country continues to turn on in slavery According to the cafe system.

According to Human Rights Watch, the treatment of its citizens in Saudi Arabia is "stunned". This has not stopped some of the best golfers in the world to join the golf course of the kingdom or worldwide entertaining, Now the Netflix dressing organizationFrom allowing the country to host Reslemania 43 in 2027. Wealth is undeniable. Their ambition must be taken seriously. But can artists and athletes take their money in good conscience? It depends on whom you are talking about and, perhaps, how much they paid.

The Riyadh Comedy Festival, which runs from September 26 to October 8, has collected a very impressive list of world -renowned comedic talent. If you throw such an event in the United States, Dave Chapel's combined likes, Kevin Hart, Burer, Aziz Ansari, Jimim Effeeferis, Hannibal Bours, Whitney Kummings, etc. Saudi Arabia understood this and, according to TimeOffered comics at anywhere between $ 300,000 and $ 1.6 million to do what was probably a set in an hour. Did it be worth?

Bill Boer, a comic book with a shooter Who often opposes the paranoid right -wing views supporting his peers (he gloriously led Jo Rogan to the task of his skepticism of Kovid vaccines) may be the most incredible participant in the festival. He is a tumultuous, common sense humanist who enjoys dancing around third -rail problems. Bur's policy is everywhere, but a decade ago, he was dead against the Middle East performance. "I didn't go there and kidnapped me and took my head on YouTube," he said. So, it is not surprising that in defense of his performance at the festival, he gently denied the previous hostility to the region.

Bur acknowledged that, as originally reported by the deadlineThe Saudis set certain restrictions on the comic book material (copyright and religion jokes were vertebrates). But he was hit by how much in common with the people of this very different culture. "I'm like, these guys, they're just like us," he said (through Diversity). "I don't speak the language, but I get it." Bur added: "You think everyone will scream" America's death "and have as machetes and want to like my head, right? Because this is what I have fed for that part of the world. "

If there is a comedian of the Riyadh law, which you think would like to participate in this festival, it is Pete Davidson. His father, Scott Davidson, was a New York firefighter who gave his life trying to save people during the 11.09 attacks. - attacks that have alleged links with Saudi Arabia. How did he get Saudi Arabia's money to Davidson in exchange for his comical adequacy? As he appeared on Theo von's podcast, Davidson threw the family problem and said this: "I just know I get the routing, and then I see the number and go," go go ".

Some comics do not take place in the criticism of the festival and their peers' decision to perform. There is some remarkable anger there.

Mark Maron, a veteran comedian and host of the huge popular podcast "WTF", took him to Instagram to say, "The same man who will pay for them is the same man who paid for that man to bone-paw Amamal Kasoghi and put him in a suitcase. But don't let him stop!" Maron was not offered the festival's slot, but Jane Gillis was, revealing that he refused a "significant bag" (the one who had doubled after refusing them for the first time) because he could not perform with a good conscience for the Saudi royal. "I took a principled attitude," he said. "You're not at 11.09. Your friends" (referring to 15 of the 19ths of hijackers are Saudi citizens).

And then it's David Cross. Starworth "Arrested Development" and co-creator of the classic comedy sketch series HBO "Mr. Show with Bob and David", took him to his blog to excuse his colleagues (some of whom are friends). By cross, "that the people I admire, with invaluable talent, would you condemn this totalitarian fiefdom for ... for what, fourth house? Ship? Multiple sneakers?" Then he lowered the boom:

"It is clear that guys do not give as *** about what others think, but how can any of us understand any of you seriously once again? All your B *** refer to" Canceling Culture "and" Freedom of Speech "and all that is ***?

It is impossible to get a consensus on the reactions of comedy fans because social media are now divided into clicks on X, Facebook, Bluesky and so on. There is a spin of support and anger. We have to wait until October 8 to see if constant damage has been done to the reputation of these comedians, but it seems likely that some professional relationships are over.