Comedian Bill Burr has hit back at critics, condemning his participation in the Riyadh Comedy Festival. Speaking on, Burr dismissed the backlash surrounding his Saudi Arabia performance, saying he doesn’t “give a f***.” The comedian, who joined a star-studded lineup, doubled down on his decision to perform at the event.
Bill Burr slams critics of Riyadh Comedy Festival
Bill Burr has spoken out strongly against those criticizing his participation in the Riyadh Comedy Festival. During his appearance on the Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend podcast, the comedian dismissed the outrage surrounding his trip to Saudi Arabia. He said that he does not “give a f**k what all these phony f*****g people are saying.” He added that much of the fuss comes from individuals who knew little about the country or the event itself.
Burr said, “It’s one thing to wear clothes made by sweatshop labor. It’s quite another to go to the factory and make ’em laugh. I can’t believe how much anger I had about this issue after it went viral.” He said he had “no idea” that performing there would cause such controversy.
Despite the online backlash, Bill Burr said that his time in Riyadh felt rewarding. He explained, “It was necessary. It felt right afterward. I vibed with them, and they were funny. F**k, they were funny f*****g people. I don’t know what to tell you. I had a good time.” The 57-year-old also praised the host, calling him a “real friend.” He noted, “I love doing the podcast, man, and I appreciate you having me on, especially during all of this bullshit.”
Burr previously spoke about the festival on his own podcast, describing the experience as “mind-blowing” and one of the highlights of his career. He said, “The royals loved the show. Everyone was happy. The people that were doing the festival were thrilled.”
Originally reported by Disheeta Maheshwari on Mandatory.
