There are similarities but it’s not the same thing. For years any time someone criticized the apartheid regime of South Africa, the government would talk about the communist leanings of African revolutionary movements and claim to be a bulwark against them. That was enough to shut up criticism from the West. Eventually a new grassroots campaign started around non-governmental actions like boycotts and disinvestment. South Africa became a pariah. It was fairly late in the process when Sun City opened and the owner tried to get entertainers to come with big paychecks. The point is that South Africa was already recognized as a pariah state.
Saudi Arabia isn’t a pariah state. Reasonable people can sit in a room and debate whether they should be and whatever they decide won’t come to anything in the real world. Nobody is breaking a boycott by performing there. On Mon, Sep 29, 2025 at 9:09 AM Mark Smith <[email protected]> wrote: > The Saudi situation reminds me of South Africa similar attempts that > tempted > with money to give up your soul. > > On Sun, Sep 28, 2025 at 10:17 PM <[email protected]> wrote: > >> [email protected] >> <https://groups.google.com/forum/?utm_source=digest&utm_medium=email#!forum/tvornottv/topics> >> Google >> Groups >> <https://groups.google.com/forum/?utm_source=digest&utm_medium=email/#!overview> >> [image: >> Google Groups Logo] >> <https://groups.google.com/forum/?utm_source=digest&utm_medium=email/#!overview> >> Topic digest >> View all topics >> <https://groups.google.com/forum/?utm_source=digest&utm_medium=email#!forum/tvornottv/topics> >> >> - OT: Saudi royals pay big bucks for comics to perform >> <#m_2573486192193581401_m_1603801987758976694_group_thread_0> - 2 >> Updates >> - 'Access' Staffers Laid Off and It's Versant's Fault >> <#m_2573486192193581401_m_1603801987758976694_group_thread_1> - 1 >> Update >> >> OT: Saudi royals pay big bucks for comics to perform >> <http://groups.google.com/group/tvornottv/t/751f7fdec9a9df57?utm_source=digest&utm_medium=email> >> Kevin M. <[email protected]>: Sep 28 02:49PM -0700 >> >> Pete Davidson and Bill Burr, among others. All being paid over $300k to >> attend a comedy festival in Saudi Arabia. Naturally, their free speech is >> restricted. >> >> >> https://variety.com/2025/politics/global/marc-maron-human-rights-riyadh-comedy-festival-1236530044/?fbclid=IwdGRjcANGi2dleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHq9XCn-5tz1PrkXQX1TwrE9afhdZGDzCuDlTDax5mfHp41nfUs9kAwCnjvux_aem_ffRsmd1pFf2Q1ETsYAAhLw >> >> People like Marc Maron are questioning the ethics of taking money from the >> same prince who not too long ago murdered a journalist. >> >> Leah Remini has weighed in. >> >> https://youtu.be/FDBqz1Va4Js?si=WPwgkooQELR6S6Pv >> >> >> Kevin M. (RPCV) >> Tom Wolper <[email protected]>: Sep 28 07:45PM -0400 >> >> The Saudis are putting a ton of money into laundering their reputation, up >> to now through golf and soccer. I’ve seen some comics post their >> invitations to let their fans know they turned it down. I find it hard to >> believe anybody who performs there will have to pay a price back home. >> >> Back to top <#m_2573486192193581401_m_1603801987758976694_digest_top> >> 'Access' Staffers Laid Off and It's Versant's Fault >> <http://groups.google.com/group/tvornottv/t/9b6721a4da6775e6?utm_source=digest&utm_medium=email> >> Mark Jeffries <[email protected]>: Sep 28 10:24AM -0700 >> >> The syndicated by NBCU show biz tab tapes its two daily shows "Access >> Hollywood" and "Access Daily" in the same facility at Universal City as >> "E! >> News," which is being reduced to online only as a result of the Versant >> spinoff--mostly stage crew, but including some people who have been with >> "Access" since launch in 1996, including weekend director Rich Plotkin, >> who >> got his start in the strange early days of WSNS in Chicago doing shows >> like >> "Underground News" and "News of the Psychic World" (they're now owned by >> NBCU as a Telemundo affil): >> >> >> https://www.thewrap.com/access-hollywood-hit-with-layoffs-tied-to-e-news-cancellation/ >> Back to top <#m_2573486192193581401_m_1603801987758976694_digest_top> >> You received this digest because you're subscribed to updates for this >> group. You can change your settings on the group membership page >> <https://groups.google.com/forum/?utm_source=digest&utm_medium=email#!forum/tvornottv/join> >> . >> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it send an >> email to [email protected]. >> > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "TVorNotTV" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an > email to [email protected]. > To view this discussion visit > https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/tvornottv/CABxyyJRRcyHg-g3ig4GYp3oeBD37H9keevMsMC2nGrAGaqwHAA%40mail.gmail.com > <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/tvornottv/CABxyyJRRcyHg-g3ig4GYp3oeBD37H9keevMsMC2nGrAGaqwHAA%40mail.gmail.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> > . > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "TVorNotTV" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/tvornottv/CAJE-FiHZ8nh_tyk63SnxCo%2BB4bKKCWSs-eygpCY7Fbi9eD%2BGyQ%40mail.gmail.com.
