Comedian Tim Dillon has been dropped from an upcoming Saudi Arabian comedy festival after making remarks critical of the country’s human rights record. Dillon had been scheduled to perform in October at the Riyadh Comedy Festival, with a reported payment of $375,000. After comments made on his podcast mocking the kingdom’s restrictions on women, free speech, and homosexuality, festival organizers informed him he was no longer welcome.
Dillon made the comments in a recent episode of The Tim Dillon Show, where he sarcastically described the money as worth overlooking Saudi Arabia’s authoritarian policies. He also joked about wanting to witness an execution or a hand-chopping. Though clearly intended as satire, the remarks led to his termination from the event lineup.
In response, Dillon stated he had no regrets about what he said. He confirmed he was officially fired by the Saudi festival and noted that the reaction only validated his criticisms of the regime. “When you get fired for saying something mild, it kind of proves your point,” Dillon said.
The Riyadh Comedy Festival features major American comedians including Dave Chappelle and Tom Segura. Dillon’s removal highlights the broader tension between Western entertainers and regimes with repressive domestic policies. While some celebrities continue to perform in Saudi Arabia, others have faced criticism for appearing to endorse the kingdom’s image despite its ongoing human rights violations.
