Tim Dillon is an American stand-up comedian, podcaster, writer, and actor known for his unapologetic, satirical, and often dark humour. He gained prominence through his podcast, The Tim Dillon Show, which usually covers cultural issues and current events. Recently, his controversial jokes on Saudi Arabia’s labour system cost him an appearance at the Riyadh Comedy Festival and also the hefty fee that was promised to him by the event organisers. Read on to know about the controversial remarks he made that triggered such a reaction.
What is the Riyadh Comedy Festival?
The Riyadh Comedy Festival is one of the world’s biggest international comedy events, taking place in Saudi Arabia from September 26 to October 9, 2025. It features a lineup of more than 50 of the world’s most famous comedians, including Dave Chappelle, Bill Burr, Kevin Hart, Aziz Ansari, Gabriel Iglesias, Jo Koy, Tom Segura, Hannibal Buress, Jimmy Carr, Russell Peters, and Pete Davidson. Landing a spot on this prestigious stage is a great feat for artists, for the global exposure and lucrative compensation. Tim Dillon both landed and lost the opportunity due to some of his debatable remarks.
Why was Tim Dillon fired from the Riyadh Comedy Festival?
Tim Dillon had been axed from the 2025 Riyadh Comedy Festival after making controversial jokes about the alleged forced labour in Saudi Arabia. He referred to it as ‘slavery’ during one of the episodes of his podcast, The Tim Dillon Show, and on an appearance on The Joe Rogan Experience in August 2025. Tim faced intense backlash online due to his statements, which led the event organisers to remove him from a warm-up show in Dubai. He also lost the USD 375,000 that was promised to him as payment for his ensuing comedic act.
Tim Dillon issued clarification regarding his intention behind making the ‘slavery’ remark
According to Tim Dillon, his manager told him that festival organisers “heard what you said about them having slaves” and they ‘didn’t like that’. In response, Dillon insisted that his comments were misinterpreted and that he had been ‘defending them for having slaves’ in a ‘funny’ way, stating, “Slaves are hard workers and for the most part agreeable”. Before being fired, the comedian publicly defended his decision to accept the Saudi performance fee against critics, reportedly saying, “So what, they have slaves.”
Other controversies surrounding the event, including ‘sportswashing’
Besides the Tim Dillon controversy, the festival has attracted other controversies, with human rights groups accusing Saudi Arabia of ‘sportswashing’ or ‘artwashing’. It refers to the practice of utilising high-profile entertainment and sports events to divert attention from or enhance the country’s image regarding human rights issues. According to them, events like the Riyadh Comedy Festival draw positive media attention and portray the nation as modern and progressive, diverting focus from issues such as the treatment of migrant workers.
Tim Dillon’s jokes drew attention to these issues, undermining the festival’s purpose. Following Tim’s removal from the show, other comedians have also faced online backlash for agreeing to perform at the festival. The organisation, Human Rights Watch, has urged the comedians to speak out against abuses or risk helping the government’s efforts to whitewash its human rights record.
What are your thoughts on Tim Dillon’s firing from the Riyadh Comedy Festival sparking a larger debate about whitewashing human rights issues? Let us know.
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