Adam Carolla Slams Dave Chappelle, Bill Burr for Taking Saudi Money and Bashing America: ‘Don’t Be Preachy and Take the Cash’

Veteran podcaster and comic Adam Carolla said his problem with stars like Dave Chappelle and Bill Burr is they have the audacity to peddle “woke bullsh*t” in America but will bite their tongues when they are paid big bucks to perform in Saudi Arabia.

Carolla shared his thoughts on a number of top comedians performing at the Riyadh Comedy Festival on his show on Monday.

“I think the problem with the Bill Burrs and the Chappelles, or anybody in general, is if you’re going to pitch — like Aziz Ansari — if you’re going to pitch woke bullsh*t here about people and people being oppressed and violence against women and all the shit you throw up every day, spare us when you go over there and take a check,” Carolla said.

The ex-Loveline star said he did not have a problem with comedians taking the paycheck — if they were willing to bash the Saudis as much as they bash the U.S. He also said he had no issue with apolitical comedians doing the show.

“I’m not really judging those who do [perform at the festival], I’m saying to everyone: don’t be preachy and take the cash,” Carolla said.

He added, “If you want to be Marc Maron and obnoxious and preachy and not take the cash, I respect that. And if you want to be Mark Normand and not preachy and just take the cash, fine. But don’t be preachy and take the cash.”

The Saudi comedy festival has attracted a number of top stars, including Pete Davidson and Louis C.K., with huge paychecks.

But it has also been met with sharp criticism from fans and other comics, including Maron, who questioned how you promote such an event.

“From the folks that brought you 9/11: Two weeks of laughter in the desert, don’t miss it!” Maron joked sardonically.

Comedians David Cross and Shane Gillis have also criticized the festival. Gillis said he turned down a substantial offer to perform, saying he was taking a “principled stand” and that “you don’t 9/11 your friends.”

Burr, who has mocked President Donald Trump as an “orange bigot,” defended his decision to perform in Saudi Arabia, saying it was “one of the top three experiences I’ve ever had.”

Chappelle, similarly, said he felt it was “easier” to talk about controversial topics in Saudi Arabia than in America.

Carolla, while talking to his guest, conservative radio host Elisha Krauss, reiterated it was “understandable” that comics would be open to performing at the festival in exchange for hundreds of thousands of dollars.

But he said those who do it and still complain America are not cool — and that it reminded him of other public figures who like to do the same.

“Whether it is Dave Chappelle or whether it’s Ilhan Omar or whether it’s Trevor Noah… being raised as a black person in a country that is better than any other country for this, and then being rich and successful and adored and then doing the ‘woe-is-me’ bullsh*t drives me nuts. It drives me nuts,” Carolla said.

You can watch a clip of his comments above, and you can watch the longer version from The Adam Carolla Show on YouTube by clicking here.