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US comedians defend decision to play in Saudi Arabia: ‘They’re paying me enough to look the other way’
(www.theguardian.com)
this post was submitted on 05 Oct 2025
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You guys expect way too much from the court jesters. There's plenty of serious enterprises investing heavily in SA, go after them if this is something you care deeply about. Comedians aren't supposed to be the moral pulse of society and yet that's how almost all conversations about them are framed these days.
Why aren't they supposed to be the moral pulse? I'm not saying they necessarily are but I think in order to be funny you need to empathize with others.
The arts should be. There’s a standard that should be there, but these comments seems to argue otherwise…
These dudes tell dick jokes for a living. If you want to throw that under the general umbrella of "the arts" in order to make appeals to lofty ideals then that is your right as a free thinking individual, but we both know the main reason you're doing that is to try and make a square peg fit in a round hole.
Go watch old late night bits. Zero politics. LOL, somebody on here the other day was trying to say the Late Show had always been political. Someone who never watched Carson.
Comedians have evolved into the "moral pulse" role. They seem to be the only group speaking truth to power and having any traction whatsoever.
Anyway, you got me thinking on all that, so I thank you!
Comedians have been making fun of politics my whole life. Not always what I would call taking a side but at the least calling out whatever foolishness was on the news cycle.
This was kind of my thought too. They're just dudes who want to make money. Sure, yeah, hate them for working with SA, that's fine, but what were you honestly expecting from these people?
its the fans that are apalled, everyone else, i dont really care, but im amused they finally show thier true colors.