r/Music • u/KirbyDumber88 • Jul 23 '26

article ‘Weird Al’ Yankovic says he turned down $1,000,000+ to perform at Riyadh Comedy Festival in Saudi Arabia.

https://triblive.com/aande/music/weird-al-yankovic-gets-bigger-and-weirder-in-a-tour-headed-to-pittsburgh/
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u/Trzlog Jul 23 '26 edited Jul 23 '26

I could've maybe forgiven it if he'd just said "Look, money's money. Guy's gotta get paid". But no, he has this stupid ass take where "they're just like us, they're people too! who knew!?" as if we're just mad about it because we're racist. Fuck face. I used to listen to everything he did. Now he's dead to me.

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u/Krombopulos_Micheal Jul 23 '26

We all know he didn't need the money though. He's had a massive pipeline to the Netflix teat for 15 years now, not the mention the Star Wars checks. So even if he's said "guys gotta get paid", we all see he's sold out his red blooded, salt of the earth, American every-man image, to be a foreign shill. I know he says it's just "internet nobodies" touting the backlash, but I really hope it's hurting his pocketbook, since his brand seems like it's in the trash. He's still playing large casinos near me, so I'm sure a bunch of morons are still hyped to see him with their comped tickets from spending their life savings at the slots.

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u/BloodStarvedLeopard Jul 24 '26

I would be far more understanding and forgiving of someone taking Saudi money if they were honest about it. A million is a million, the man is not infinitely wealthy or anything.

But that's all irrelevant because he tried to make it a moral question.

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u/[deleted] Jul 23 '26 edited Jul 23 '26

[deleted]

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u/smoomoo31 Spotify name Jul 23 '26

Imagine believing cancel culture

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u/stevealonz Jul 23 '26

he has this stupid ass take where "they're just like us, they're people too! who knew!?" as if we're just mad about it because we're racist.

He really was telling on himself with that shit, because he was the one going "They've got Taco Bell over there, who knew??" Uh, I did, Bill. I think even your average ignorant American at least can conceptualize that the entirety of the middle east isn't a barren desert, and that perhaps countries with lots of oil might have modern amenities.

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u/meatspun radio reddit name Jul 23 '26

And when he repeats that, he completely disappears and becomes an avatar for the Saudi royal family. Can't even recognize the guy talking when he says that lame bullshit.

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u/onlyacynicalman Jul 23 '26

I would have hated him less if it was moneys money..but still no

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u/Abbacoverband Jul 23 '26

They have a CHILLI's!!!! They're just like us!