Bill Burr defends Riyadh gig, says speech limits eased

Bill Burr defended his decision to perform at the Riyadh Comedy Festival on his podcast and during a live taping of Conan OBrien Needs a Friend this month, saying the event offered an opportunity to engage with Saudi audiences and pushing back against widespread online criticism. Burr said he performed for roughly 8,000 people, including Saudi citizens, diplomats and women in the audience, and argued that the festival's organizers reduced initial speech restrictions during negotiations with performers.

Burr told listeners that much of the controversy stemmed from clipped excerpts and viral commentary rather than the full context of his experience. "After I answer them, it all gets clipped," he said on his podcast, describing how online excerpts reshaped his remarks. He later used blunt language to dismiss critics during the Conan taping, saying, "I don't give a fuck what all these phony people are saying," and adding that he regarded the show as one of the best experiences of his career.

The festival, which ran in late September and early October, drew a roster of high profile U.S. comedians and prompted debate over whether American artists should perform in a country criticized...