Tag Archives: Comedy

While defending his decision to perform at the controversial, state-sponsored Riyadh Comedy Festival in Saudi Arabia, Aziz Ansari said he planned to donate “part of the fee” to “causes that support free press and human rights,” listing Reporters Without Borders and Human Rights Watch, which has long been critical of the comedy festival and the Saudi regime. But in a …

The the recent Riyadh Comedy Festival controversy made its way to Jimmy Kimmel Live! this week. Aziz Ansari, one of the 50 or so comedians that traveled to Saudi Arabia to perform for what was billed as “the world’s largest comedy festival,” stopped by Kimmel’s late night show to promote his new Lionsgate comedy Good Fortune. And the host tackled …

Jimmy Kimmel pressed comedian Aziz Ansari this week about his decision to perform at Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh Comedy Festival, with Kimmel calling the Saudi government a “pretty brutal regime” and questioning why Ansari would “take their money.” Held in Saudi Arabia’s capital city, the Riyadh Comedy Festival began on Sept. 26 and ends Thursday. The event has hosted over 50 …

Why Arguments About Free Speech Don’t Apply to the Riyadh Comedy Festival  The New York Times Louis C.K. sells out San Francisco show after Saudi backlash  San Francisco Chronicle Bill Burr Fires Back at Critics of His Riyadh Comedy Festival Appearance: “Sanctimonious C***s”  The Hollywood Reporter Opinion | Laughter can’t launder what Saudi Arabia has done  The Washington Post Bill Burr Keeps Cycling Through …

To paraphrase TS Eliot: and was it worth it after all? A question to ponder for those who have taken the coin of a government once described unequivocally as “the worst of the worst” by one human rights advocacy organisation. The past decade has seen Saudi Arabia invest in everything from football to opera to video games – all part …

On his late-night talk show Tuesday night, Jimmy Kimmel pressed Aziz Ansari for performing at the controversial, state-sponsored Riyadh Comedy Festival in Saudi Arabia. “This is something that’s become a big part of the news because people, a lot of comedians especially, are very upset, because the people who paid the comedians to come to this are not good people. …

By default, Bill Burr exists in a state of his ass being chapped, but clearly it’s been feeling more chapped than usual. The comedian has continued to address his decision to perform at the Riyadh Comedy Festival, but he still can’t settle on which lazy excuse he wants to employ. Last week, Burr recapped his trip to the festival and …

Bill Burr has defended his appearance at the controversial Riyadh comedy festival, calling his critics “sanctimonious cunts”. The comedian has been under fire, alongside Kevin Hart, Louis CK, Aziz Ansari and Dave Chappelle, for being on the lineup for what was billed as “the world’s largest comedy festival”. The Human Rights Watch called out the event as a distraction, aiming …

Conan O’Brien and the crew from his SiriusXM podcast took over Hollywood’s Fonda Theatre on Sunday night for a special live recording of Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend. After an introductory segment featuring co-hosts Sona Movsesian and Matt Gourley, the Fonda’s lights dimmed as O’Brien readied to reveal his surprise guest — Bill Burr. “Hi, I’m Bill Burr and I feel …

Aziz Ansari was among the comedians who recently traveled to Saudi Arabia to perform at the controversial Riyadh Comedy Festival, a decision that raised eyebrows and prompted questions from Jimmy Kimmel. Ansari appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live on Monday, October 6th, to promote his feature directorial debut, Good Fortune. Toward the end of the interview, Kimmel took the opportunity to ask …