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Posted on 10/09/2025 9:18:06 PM PDT by nickcarraway
The event has drawn criticism due to human rights abuses by the Saudi government
Jimmy Kimmel grilled comedian Aziz Ansari over his involvement in the controversial Riyadh Comedy Festival in Saudi Arabia.
The state-sponsored festival, which also featured fellow standups Dave Chappelle and Bill Burr, has drawn criticism due to the Saudi Arabian government’s alleged human rights abuses, as well as accusations around its involvement in the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018.
Appearing on the October 7 edition of Jimmy Kimmel Live, Ansari was faced with questions from the host about performing. “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” he said.
“It’s a pretty brutal regime. They’ve done a lot of horrible, horrible things. People are questioning why you would go over there and take their money to perform in front of these people. I’m curious as to why you decided to do that.”
Ansari said it was “something I put a lot of thought into,” arguing: “There’s people over there that don’t agree with the stuff that the government’s doing, and to ascribe like the worst behaviour of the government onto those people, that’s not fair. Just like there’s people in America that don’t agree with the things the government is doing.”
Kimmel agreed that “we’re doing horrible things over here” (in the United States), but argued the Saudi regime’s actions are more heinous. “They murdered a journalist. These are not good people over there,” he said, in reference to the murder of Jamal Khashoggi.
Ansari replied: “I was just there to do a show for the people,” before adding: “You kind of have to make a choice of whether you’re going to isolate or engage. For me, especially being me and looking the way I do and being from a Muslim background, it felt like something I should be a part of. And I hope it pushes things in a positive direction.”
Many stand up comedians have been critical of the festival, with Marc Maron asking: “I mean, how do you even promote that? You know, ‘from the folks that brought you 9/11, two weeks of laughter in the desert. Don’t miss it!’” Shane Gillis revealed he turned down a “significant bag” to appear, calling it “a principled stand.”
Bill Burr defended appearing, saying “it’s going to lead to a lot of positive things”, while Louis C.K. also called it “a good opportunity”. However, fellow performer Jessica Kirson apologised, saying: “I am deeply sorry to all the fans and followers I have hurt or disappointed.”
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Entertainers entertain people with good cheques.
Do people really want to end their day listening to such anger?
Seriously. It’s very weird. Kimmel shtick was as a TV clown. Now he has transformed into such a self-righteous, political SOB, hasn’t he? Dude started out as Soupy Sales and now he’s Jimmy Carter.
Look, the POS Jimmy Kimmel is complaining about 'not good people'.
Jimmy’s an Islamophobe. Pass it on...
I recall when I first heard of Trevor Noah. He had some really funny stuff. In some interview he talked about how in Africa (and I presume Saudi Arabia as well), they didn’t have comedians - it wasn’t a thing. So part of his job as a comedian would be to go to various countries and explain to them what comedy was.
I can’t recall exactly, but I think it mostly had to do with a lot of the comedy is based on typical life, which might be frowned on by the government and the comedian could end up in jail.
It is too bad Trevor went off the rails.
Hypocrite.
“ Jimmy’s an Islamophobe. Pass it on...”
**********************************
I heard Jimmy drew an image depicting Muhammad as a goat humper and then he burned a copy of the Koran.
OK, that’s a funny characterization, and spot on.
Yeah, he’s just a self-righteous scold now, with very little reason for the self-righteousness.
LOL.
If Jimbo actually did that on his so called show it would be interesting to see the fallout.
$$$$$$$
Hey Jimmy. Your paymasters at Disney aren’t good people either.
Soupy Sales was respectable. Kimmy started out with a TV show about masturbating to girls jumping on trampolines.
It’s easy when you pocket millions a year - then you can lord it over unconnected 2nd rate colleagues.
PLEASE EXPLAIN TO ME-—IN ONLY SMALL WORDS-—HOW KIMMEL IS QUALIFIED TO DECLARE ANYONE ELSE ‘NOT GOOD PEOPLE”.
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