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Bill Burr’s recent defense of his decision to perform at the Riyadh Comedy Festival should give pause to the pearl-clutchers on the left who pretend to own the high ground on principles. On his podcast he described the trip as one of the best experiences of his career, saying the people he met were “just like us” and that the shows went over incredibly well. Conservatives who value cultural exchange and skepticism of the coastal outrage machine can appreciate a comedian who won’t let mob pressure dictate where he works.
The festival itself has unsurprisingly become a lightning rod, drawing A-list names and furious criticism from activists who accuse Riyadh of using culture to whitewash its record. Reports note the lineup included major stars and that some commentators and human rights groups warned the event was being used to polish the image of a government with serious baggage. That’s a fair concern to raise, but it doesn’t automatically turn every American who goes there into a shill for the regime; nuance matters more than virtue-signaling.
Burr even revealed that performers negotiated ground rules with organizers so the festival could host real comedy without descending into diplomatic nightmare territory, with sensible limits like avoiding direct attacks on the royal family or religion. Those negotiations allowed comics to test material in nearby countries and then bring an authentic stand-up show to a new audience, not a scripted propaganda hour. For conservatives who believe in open markets and human connection, creating space for real cultural encounters is how societies slowly liberalize, not by cutting off contact.
Of course, some in the comedy world erupted, calling participation a sellout and accusing performers of hypocrisy about free speech. The dramatic public shaming from a handful of high-profile left-wing comics is predictably performative: they lecture about principles while ignoring the practical reality that engagement, not withdrawal, often produces better outcomes. Conservatives should call out genuine abuses where warranted, but we should also call out performative outrage that seeks to punish Americans for taking opportunities instead of advancing a real policy agenda.
Let’s be blunt: America is stronger when our culture travels and our citizens interact with people abroad rather than shrinking behind boycotts. The festival drew major talent and big crowds, and Americans who go should be judged by what they do on the stage and whether they speak truthfully, not by reflexive leftist condemnation. Engagement doesn’t mean abandoning moral clarity about issues like Khashoggi or human rights, but it does mean recognizing that cultural influence and economic ties are tools of long-term change.
So to hardworking Americans watching this spectacle, here’s the simple takeaway: don’t let the coastal moralizing class dictate who gets to engage the world. Bill Burr did what a free and independent comedian should do—he went, he performed, and he reported back that the people were eager to laugh and connect. If conservatives are proud of anything, it’s the belief in individual choice, free expression, and the slow work of persuasion; that’s exactly what this moment calls for, not sanctimony and public shaming.
