Shane Gillis: Saying No to Saudi Arabia and Selling Out Stadiums
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Shane Gillis: Saying No to Saudi Arabia and Selling Out Stadiums
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About this listen
Shane Gillis has been headline news this week for both his sold-out stand-up tour and his principled refusal to participate in the controversial Riyadh Comedy Festival in Saudi Arabia. In a move that has drawn praise and curiosity across the entertainment world, the Los Angeles Times reports Gillis revealed on his hit show Matt and Shane’s Secret Podcast that he turned down a highly lucrative offer from Saudi organizers—one the comedian described as a “significant bag” and even doubled after his initial declination. Gillis said he was firmly pressured to join the marquee festival alongside industry giants like Dave Chappelle and Pete Davidson but stood his ground and passed, telling listeners he wanted no part in “whitewashing” a regime criticized for human rights abuses. His refusal to appear at the festival has sparked major discussion on social media, with fans and fellow comedians weighing in on the ethics of U.S. stars performing in Saudi Arabia at a time of heightened scrutiny.
While other comics like Tim Dillon and Marc Maron have also made headlines for their stances toward the event, it’s Gillis’s decision—and his public explanation of the “principal stand”—that has been most widely shared on Twitter and Instagram, especially as the story dovetails with ongoing criticism from Human Rights Watch and prominent nonprofit watchdogs about Saudi “sportswashing.” Meanwhile, Gillis’s comedy career is surging. He just performed to a packed house at Orlando’s Kia Center on September 27, and upcoming dates in Houston and Tulsa are building buzz in advance of his Sacramento run this coming November. Downtown Orlando and the Kia Center both tout Gillis as unapologetic and boundary-pushing, noting his latest Netflix special’s ongoing top-10 status since debut and the renewal of his hit Netflix series Tires for a second season in 2025.
Social media mentions for Gillis have spiked, with video clips from his recent Bonfire podcast and Matt and Shane’s Secret Podcast circulating widely, showing the comedian in both contemplative and comedic moods as he discusses everything from industry pressure to the ethics of mega-festival bookings. No major scandals or business controversies have emerged in recent days, and there are no reports of new deals or surprise film appearances. The dominant storyline remains Gillis’s tour success and his very public refusal to perform in Saudi Arabia—a decision poised to have lasting implications for his reputation as a comic unafraid to buck both industry and financial pressure.
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