Louis C.K. Kinda Agrees With David Cross’ Riyadh Comedy Criticism

David Cross called out several of his comedic idols for participating in the “whole gross thing” known as the Riyadh Comedy Festival. “My god, Dave (Chappelle) and Louie (C.K.) and Bill (Burr),” he wrote. “Clearly you guys don’t give a shit about what the rest of us think, but how can any of us take any of you seriously ever again?”

The criticism hit close to home for C.K. “It’s funny because David and I were roommates when we were 19 years old,” the comedian told Bill Maher on Friday’s episode of Real Time. “We lived together in Boston. And we were just scrappy young guys.”

Fellow Riyadh critic Mark Maron was there as well, working as a dishwasher in a local coffee shop. “We were just kids trying to be comics in Boston,” C.K. remembered. “David had this bit about shaving the Pope’s pussy. That was one of his bits. And I just loved him. … David Cross wrote an open letter to Larry the Cable Guy telling him to quit comedy, you can look that up, because he hated him. So he’s an opinionated guy.”

Not only is C.K. not mad about slams from Cross and Maron, he thinks his old friends might be right. “Look, I think the whole discussion is worthy,” he told Maher. “I’m glad these guys brought this stuff up. I’m glad that people are challenging this thing, because you shouldn’t just pretend it’s something it’s not.”

C.K. explained that he’s grateful for Cross’ brickbats “because you should say that side too. When are you appeasing? When are you engaging? I have mixed feelings about it, too. I struggled about going once I started hearing what everyone was saying.”

So why go at all? 

C.K. told Maher he plays countries all over the world, and he was fascinated by the idea that Saudi Arabia was loosening its cultural restrictions. “I thought, that’s awfully interesting. That just feels like a good opportunity. And I just think comedy is a great way to get in and start talking,” he explained. “And there’s Saudi Arabian comedians there. I’m going to a comedy club in Saudi Arabia the first night I get there to just see what’s going on. I love stand-up comedy, and I love comedians. So the fact that (Saudi Arabia) is opening up and starting to bud, I want to see it. I want to be part of it. I think that’s a positive.”

Whether or not you agree with C.K., at least his reasoning is more nuanced than those of fired festival comic Tim Dillon, who gave this rationale for attending: “We’re taking the money.”

Despite comedy restrictions around the Saudis’ religion and government — neither of which C.K. has jokes about — he landed on participating in the festival. “There’s some good in it, maybe some bad in it, but I think for me it cuts towards going,” he said. “That’s my decision.”