At the Riyadh comedy festival, money is the only thing speaking freely. Meanwhile, our most vocal free speech defenders in comedy have remained notably silent about censorship in Saudi Arabia
I’m appalled, too. All these guys whining about how they can’t say anything in America and then let themselves be censored for the right price.
Most of these folks aren’t old enough to remember South Africa in the 1980s, where there was a major movement of artists not to perform there. And those that did - notably Queen - got a lot of flak for doing so. John McEnroe turns down $1 million for an exhibition against Bjorn Borg.
If it is true that the performers had to adhere to this: "“[A]ny material that may be considered to degrade, defame, or bring into public disrepute, contempt, scandal, embarrassment, or ridicule A) The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, including its leadership, public figures, culture, or people; B) The Saudi royal family, legal system, or government, and; C) Any religion, religious tradition, religious figure, or religious practice,” then they really sold themselves and sold out.
Thank you. I am much less clueless about all this than I was before reading your essay. I appreciate this as a selection of the pocket contrarian. I would not have read it otherwise, not due to lack of interest but rather an overload of choices. This is a significant piece of writing due to the serious subject matter—authoritarianism high jacking “truth-telling” comedians by buying them off and even resorting to murder.
Why do comedians specifically have a responsibility to call out human rights abuses when our own government is in league with the Saudis? So singers and other performers can go. Did they call out the human rights abuses? Business people? No? So only comedians. Most of the names mentioned were not hot-right-now big names. If this is really a free country, then they are free to make the choice they can live with. W didn’t go after the Saudis after 9/11. But comedians are where we draw the line. Really???
I'm tempted to refer to the batch of comedians who took the Saudi gig as the Court Jesters, except court jesters often could needle their patrons to some extent. So I guess it would be more fitting to refer to them as the Organ Grinder Lackeys.
I'm glad for the principed folks who couldn't be bought. Shame on all the rest of them. Thank you for reporting this.
I’m appalled, too. All these guys whining about how they can’t say anything in America and then let themselves be censored for the right price.
Most of these folks aren’t old enough to remember South Africa in the 1980s, where there was a major movement of artists not to perform there. And those that did - notably Queen - got a lot of flak for doing so. John McEnroe turns down $1 million for an exhibition against Bjorn Borg.
Disgusted by those who sell their souls in this way.
If it is true that the performers had to adhere to this: "“[A]ny material that may be considered to degrade, defame, or bring into public disrepute, contempt, scandal, embarrassment, or ridicule A) The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, including its leadership, public figures, culture, or people; B) The Saudi royal family, legal system, or government, and; C) Any religion, religious tradition, religious figure, or religious practice,” then they really sold themselves and sold out.
It's despicable. All about the $$$, whether it's (some) comedians going to Saudi Arabia or tech giants and the rest bowing to donald.
What some people do for a dollar........
Thank you. I am much less clueless about all this than I was before reading your essay. I appreciate this as a selection of the pocket contrarian. I would not have read it otherwise, not due to lack of interest but rather an overload of choices. This is a significant piece of writing due to the serious subject matter—authoritarianism high jacking “truth-telling” comedians by buying them off and even resorting to murder.
Why do comedians specifically have a responsibility to call out human rights abuses when our own government is in league with the Saudis? So singers and other performers can go. Did they call out the human rights abuses? Business people? No? So only comedians. Most of the names mentioned were not hot-right-now big names. If this is really a free country, then they are free to make the choice they can live with. W didn’t go after the Saudis after 9/11. But comedians are where we draw the line. Really???
I'm tempted to refer to the batch of comedians who took the Saudi gig as the Court Jesters, except court jesters often could needle their patrons to some extent. So I guess it would be more fitting to refer to them as the Organ Grinder Lackeys.