Tim Dillon has always been known for pushing boundaries with his comedy, but this time it cost him big. The American comedian was set to perform at the Riyadh Comedy Festival, one of the biggest comedy events in the world, but he was dropped from the lineup after making controversial remarks about Saudi Arabia’s labour system. On his podcast The Tim Dillon Show and during a chat on The Joe Rogan Experience in August 2025, he referred to the system as “slavery,” sparking outrage. The comments led organisers to cut him from the festival as well as a warm-up show in Dubai, and he lost the USD 375,000 he was supposed to earn from the gig.
The Riyadh Comedy Festival, running from September 26 to October 9, 2025, features more than 50 big names in comedy including Kevin Hart, Dave Chappelle, Bill Burr, Aziz Ansari, Gabriel Iglesias, Jo Koy, Jimmy Carr, and Russell Peters. For many comedians, being part of it is both an honour and a massive career opportunity. Dillon had that chance in hand but lost it because of his jokes.
After news of his removal broke, Dillon tried to explain himself. He said his words were taken out of context and that he had been “defending” the use of slaves in what he thought was a funny way. He went as far as saying, “Slaves are hard workers and for the most part agreeable.” That attempt at clarification only stirred more debate online, especially since critics had already accused him of accepting Saudi money despite the country’s human rights record. Dillon reportedly responded to critics before his firing by saying, “So what, they have slaves.”
His firing has now become part of a much larger conversation. Human rights groups have long criticised events like the Riyadh Comedy Festival as a form of “sportswashing” or “artwashing,” where big entertainment spectacles are used to polish a country’s global image while diverting attention from issues like the treatment of migrant workers. Tim’s jokes, however offensive, pulled those issues right back into the spotlight.
Other comedians performing at the festival are now under scrutiny too. Human Rights Watch has urged them to take a stand and not let themselves be used as tools to whitewash Saudi Arabia’s human rights record. So while Tim Dillon lost a huge payday, his firing has triggered a bigger debate about the role of comedians and entertainers in such global events and whether they should speak up against the issues surrounding them.