CHRISTIAN TOTO: Why RiyadhGate Spells Bigger Problem for Trump-Era Comics.

This isn’t Cancel Culture redux. It’s the Strange New Respect comedians are receiving across the cultural landscape. And it comes with serious strings attached.

Just ask Bill Burr, one of many comics hounded by fans and fellow stand-ups for performing at the recent Riyadh Comedy Festival in Saudi Arabia. The hard-charging Burr is part of a rebellious stand-up class, the truth tellers who thumb their noses at the woke mob … and thrive.

Why would he cash in on a gig funded by a suffocating regime?

Fellow participants, including Aziz Ansari, have faced similar heat. The host of “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” pressed Ansari on his inclusion in the festival.

Burr remains defiant about his critics, calling them “sanctimonious c****.” Jessica Kirson, an openly lesbian performer, took a different approach. She belatedly returned the money she made from participating in the event.

Saudi Arabia’s record on gay rights is less than stellar.

Others who took the money and yukked it up? Dave Chappelle, Andrew Schulz, Jo Koy, Mark Normand, Louis C.K., Kevin Hart, Whitney Cummings, Jim Jefferies, Sebastian Maniscalco, Tom Segura and Jeff Ross.

Marc Maron, who seems to always find fault with fellow comics, and David Cross skewered their peers for performing at the festival. Suddenly, picking up a fat paycheck isn’t as simple as it once was.

What’s a comic to do? More importantly, why are we suddenly holding comedians to a higher standard?

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