Zach Woods Sarcastically Defends Riyadh Comedy Festival: ‘Name One Comedian Who Hasn’t Whored Themselves Out to A Dictator’
When the Riyadh Comedy Festival starts tomorrow, A-list comedians like Bill Burr, Dave Chappelle and Kevin Hart will join together to whitewash the Saudi Arabian government's systematic crimes against humanity. But, hey, what comic hasn’t cashed a paycheck from someone who bankrolls terrorists?
Lately, there has been a lot of hubbub in the humor industry about how almost all of America’s already-wealthy stand-up superstars are accepting massive piles of money to perform at a festival in the Saudi Arabian capital. Beginning tomorrow night and stretching until October 9th, Burr, Chappelle and their colleagues will be responsible for advancing the Saudi Vision 2030 campaign to improve the country’s international reputation that’s long been that of a brutal and repressive den of torture, oil money and slavery by transforming Riyadh into a global hub for entertainment and tourism.
The nonprofit group Human Rights Watch has condemned the Riyadh Comedy Festival and begged the participating comedians not to be complicit in covering up the execution of journalists, the murder of migrant women and children, the Saudi Royal Family’s long history of aiding and abetting terrorist organizations and the litany of other unspeakable horrors that the despotic Saudi government unleashes on a daily basis. Nevertheless, Burr and his brothers-in-American-built-arms are determined to perform at the state-funded cover-up comedy event, and at least one of their peers back home is in full support.
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In a viral video posted by comedian Zach Woods, the Office and Silicon Valley star implored the comedy world to lay off of the Riyadh headliners, telling their critics to let he who has never performed for the pleasure of a murderous despot cast the first stone — preferably aimed at a detained journalist's skull.
Thankfully for the Riyadh comedy crew, Woods isn’t the only American comedian who is in full support of their Middle Eastern payday, despite not earning an invitation himself. In the comments to the above video, Jen Kirman joined in on pushing back against woke snowflakes who melt down when a comedian tells a joke in front of literal dictators, writing, “Omg human rights watch — it’s like they’re trying to cancel comedy!”
One comedy fan agreed, commenting, “Can’t even have human rights violations now because of woke.”
Another fan predicted of the comics’ sets, which will have to abide by strict content guidelines set by the Saudi government under penalty of imprisonment and even execution, “Louis CKs ‘Best Wank in the West Bank’ joke is gonna slay.”
Really, at the end of the day, the Riyadh Comedy Festival is about more than just improving the public image of an oppressive regime that has more disdain for human rights and dignity than Burr claims to have for American billionaires — it’s about further enriching comedy’s wealthiest artists and choosing a paycheck over what’s left of their integrity. And who’s to say that selling out for murderous tyrants isn’t what comedy itself is all about?
Well, who else besides Human Rights Watch, that is.
