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Comedians Participating in Saudi Comedy Festival? Kara Swisher and Scott Galloway Debate

October 01, 2025 / 01:22

This episode discusses the criticism faced by comedians participating in the Riad Comedy Festival, a state-sponsored event in Saudi Arabia. Key topics include free speech, hypocrisy among comedians, and political implications of their participation.

Comedians are called out for accepting money from a regime known for human rights violations. The conversation highlights the contradiction between their advocacy for free speech and their actions.

One speaker openly admits to participating in the festival without guilt, while another argues that these comedians should be held accountable for their hypocrisy.

The dialogue touches on broader issues such as the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi and the current political climate in the U.S., emphasizing the complexities of free speech in a global context.

TLDR

Comedians face backlash for performing at Saudi Arabia's Riad Comedy Festival amid free speech hypocrisy discussions.

Episode

1:22
00:00:00
Top comedians are criticizing their peers for participating in the Riad Comedy Festival, a state sponsored Saudi
00:00:06
event. These are all the free free speechers being uh completely paid off not to speak. What do you think about
00:00:12
this? Well, let me be clear. I' I have gone to Riad and spoken and cash their checks
00:00:17
and I do so openly and wholeheartedly and with a total absence of guilt. Yes, but these are comics, Scott. These
00:00:24
are people who who go on and on about free speech and insult everybody about it. So, let me be clear. I believe NBS
00:00:30
ordered the murder of Kosogi in our nation. We're letting, you know, we're taking away healthcare from people.
00:00:36
We're removing security details from former officials. We're incarcerating and pulling people out of work with
00:00:43
people in mass. I literally think we're in no position to wave our finger at anybody right now.
00:00:46
I completely disagree with you. I think we should absolutely wave our finger at these comics cuz these are the comics
00:00:52
that literally lectured the left on free speech. I think our comics are an incredible export and I think the more
00:01:01
comics in different parts of the world makes us look good and and makes them less likely to declare war on us and
00:01:06
feel affinity for us. I'm in. Go cash their check. Have a great time. Hypocrites. [ __ ] hypocrites. If you
00:01:14
say free speech to me, I'm going to punch you in the nuts.

Badges

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  • 70
    Most shocking
  • 70
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  • 60
    Most intense
  • 60
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Episode Highlights

  • Comedians Criticized for Saudi Festival
    Top comedians face backlash for participating in a state-sponsored event in Saudi Arabia.
    “These are all the free speechers being uh completely paid off”
    @ 00m 06s
    October 01, 2025
  • Debate on Free Speech
    A heated discussion on the implications of comedians accepting money from controversial regimes.
    “I think our comics are an incredible export”
    @ 00m 58s
    October 01, 2025

Episode Quotes

  • Hypocrites. [ __ ] hypocrites.
    Comedians Participating in Saudi Comedy Festival? Kara Swisher and Scott Galloway Debate

Key Moments

  • Comedians Criticized00:02
  • Free Speech Debate00:11
  • Accusations of Hypocrisy01:11