Comedian David Cross released a fiery statement on his website Monday condemning the comedians who agreed to perform at Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh Comedy Festival.
“I am disgusted, and deeply disappointed in this whole gross thing,” Cross wrote. “That people I admire, with unarguable talent, would condone this totalitarian fiefdom for…what, a fourth house? A boat? More sneakers?”
He continued, “We can never again take seriously anything these comedians complain about (unless it’s complaining that we don’t support enough torture and mass executions of journalists and LGBQT peace activists here in the states, or that we don’t terrorize enough Americans by flying planes into our buildings).”
Cross went on to call out specific names from the lineup, including comedy giants Dave Chappelle, Louie CK and Bill Burr.
“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?” Cross added. “All of your bitching about ‘cancel culture’ and ‘freedom of speech’ and all that shit? Done. You don’t get to talk about it ever again. By now we’ve all seen the contract you had to sign.”
The “Mr. Show” star isn’t the first comedian to take issue with the Riyadh Comedy Festival. Marc Maron recently took to his “WTF” podcast to slam those participating in the event.
“I mean, how do you even promote that? ‘From the folks that brought you 9/11. Two weeks of laughter in the desert, don’t miss it!’” he said. “I mean, the same guy that’s gonna pay them is the same guy that paid that guy to bone-saw Jamal Khashoggi and put him in a fucking suitcase. But don’t let that stop the yucks, it’s gonna be a good time!”
Shane Gillis also disavowed the festival, saying on his “Secret Podcast” that he turned down an invitation and a “significant bag” for an appearance fee.
He said, “I took a principled stand. You don’t 9/11 your friends.”
Other U.S. comedians set to appear at the Riyadh Comedy Festival include Kevin Hart, Pete Davidson, Russell Peters, Gabriel Iglesias, Wayne Brady, Jeff Ross, Tom Segura and Hannibal Buress.
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